Erica's Early Learning

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sharing Web Resources


While following other links that I haven’t explored yet, I found out some interesting things about the Step by Step Program Foundation. For instance, they are involved in a "Promoting Access to Quality Education and Desegregation of Roma" Project, which is similar to the discussion we are talking about this week in my class. Here, is some information about the project and its goals.

In 2001 the Education Program Area carried out “The Roma Schools in Bulgaria” research. Its findings showed and confirmed the data of some previous research on the nationwide phenomenon of Roma dropouts as a result of interrelated economic, social and educational reasons. This research points to the educational stages, which are critical for Roma children according to the dropout rate.

Based on the above mentioned the current situation and needs, and considering the results of all projects and the expertise in this area, the Open Society Foundation – Sofia developed an integrated project, whose aim is to promote the provision of equal opportunities to children and youth of Roma origin in the entire education process and to increase their access to high quality education (from nursery to secondary education).

The project objectives focus on retaining the children at school and providing quality education and adequate preparation for social realization through:

  • Improving the desegregation policy at a municipal level in connection with the integration of Roma children in mixed schools;
  • Supporting the process of integration through attracting, including and successfully retaining Roma children at school hence increasing the opportunity for their passing to higher educational levels;
  • Involving dropouts and children not covered by the educational system through strategies like community based programs and improving the receiving schools, where the children will be integrated;
  • Supporting Roma children to continue their education through increasing the number of Roma children enrolled in mixed schools and improving their school performance.

This project proposal aims to implement these objectives through a new, integrated approach applied to the educational chain as a whole and involving all participants in the education process. This approach involves comprehensive partnership activities designed to improve the quality of education through teacher training, community development, school improvement and effective use of resources. These activities and trainings within programs as Education for Social Justice, Step by Step, Reading and Writing Critical Thinking, Health and Woman Programs under the School Improvement Initiative umbrella create opportunities for equal access to quality education for Roma children. In that sense, this is a pilot project not only for OSF – Sofia but also for the country.

Also, in the context of the Framework Program (FP), the project seeks to enhance schooling of children at educational institutions and encourage them to pass to higher levels of education. This is achieved through helping them leave “Roma” preschools and schools and enroll in mixed institutions. Again in the context of the FP that foresees measures against racism in the classroom, the project envisages teacher and parent training for overcoming biases.

This website contributed to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education. For instance, it showed me that no matter where you live in this world, everybody goes through the same thing one way or the other. Also, there are people out there who do care and wants to help individual succeed no matter their cultural differences.

Reference

Step By Step Program. (2001). Step By Step Program – Bulgaria. "Promoting Access to Quality Education and Desegregation of Roma" Project. Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://www.stepbystep-bg.org/display.php?page=project3

7 comments:

  1. The program sounds nice. I particulary like to see programs that have a plan for early childhood through secondary school. I feel that if education is going to be effective, it must include all ages. This will help insure a seamless transition between stages and will be more effective than disjointed programs.

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  2. Erica,
    While you were reading on getting better education in Roma, I reading about cuts. Some schools districts are not looking at the needs for the children and their country, but the dollars they can save. I know it can be a stuggle on a country the presidents, and/or the prime ministers our children are in need for better education and quality education in the early childcare.

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  4. Erica,
    Your post points out that the challenges of educating different cultures is not just occurring in the United States. We can learn from the success or failure of each others approaches to achieve equity in education. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  5. Wow! What a great post! So informative...I loved reading your post this week :).

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  6. Thank you, for all your comments.... I'm glad my blog could deepened your thoughts about international challenges with education.

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  7. I also find it amazing that children face issues similar to those of our own children in the U.S. I would like to read more about your post this week. I plan to follow your link this week for further reading. Thank you for sharing.

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