Rights of the Roma Children in the Towns of Velingrad and Rakitovo

Rights of the Roma Children In the Towns of Velingrad and Rakitovo

When Accessing Quality Primary And Pre-School Education

FINAL REPORT

SUMMARY

Thetaskofthisreportistosuggestthereasonsforandthe extentofviolation of the rights of Roma children in Velingrad and Rakitovo, in regards to the access to quality primary and pre-school education, with evaluation of the relation to gender. In the context of the analyzed situation there have been made recommendations for an appropriate program intervention by means of a project.

In the research there have been primarily applied methods and approaches typical for social anthropology – field research, meetings and talks on site until “saturation” of information; in-depth interviews. The key areas / disputed themes, attitudes and conclusions were verified by means of focus groups in both municipalities.

Accordingtoapproximatedatafromindirectsources, thenumberofRomachildreninVelingradisabout 1600 – over 30% ofallchildreninVelingrad, and in Rakitovo roma children are about 1100 – 27% of all the children not only in town, but in the entire municipality.TherightsandpossibilitiesofRomachildrenfordevelopmentwereresearchedinviewoftheaccesstoeducationinkindergartensandschools; there has been pointed out a too large share of Roma among the major groups of children in risk. Kindergartens represent an important stage in the socialization and preparation of children for attending school – a good tool for overcoming the lingual barrier and for adapting Roma kids to school and to the environment external to the community. However, incomparisontoothercommunitiesandgroups, Romachildrenhaveamuchsmaller possibility to attend kindergartens. For instance, only 25% of Roma children in Rakitovo are taken in kindergartens, in comparison to a 50% share of other communities.

TheunsolvedproblemsofRomachildrenatschooldonotdiffermuchfromthegeneralpictureforthecountry: lowlevelofeducation, “roaming” children not taken in range after early dropping out of school, poor quality of education hardly comparable with the knowledge and achievements of children from the majority, disturbed relations between school and parents. The reasons for this situation have been singled out and grouped in three fields: community environment; social and economic factors; educational system and school environment.

There has been made an analysis of the factors, which have a decisive impact on the education of children, and the first position is given to the attitudes of the Roma community towards education, after that come the social and economic factors and reasons (unemployment and mass poverty); discrimination and segregation.

ThenecessityofatransitiontowardsintegratededucationhasbeenanalyzedinthecontextofthespecificsituationofVelingradandRakitovo; thisbasishas been usedtoanalyzepossiblestrategiesforsolvingtheproblem, aswellasperspectivesandprioritiesofthefutureprograminterventionofEveryChild.

CONTENTS:

1. Description of the methods of the research:

1.1.Objectives and tasks

1.2.Methods and approaches of implementation

1.3.Presentation of information sources

1.4.Research team

2. Roma communities in Velingrad and Rakitovo:

2.1. General characteristics of the situation in both target areas

2.2. Roma neighborhoods in the town of Velingrad

2.3. Roma neighborhoods in the town of Rakitovo

2.4. Assessment of the relations between the communities in Velingrad and Rakitovo

3. Roma children in Velingrad and Rakitovo:

3.1. Roma children in schools and kindergartens

3.2. Problems in the education of Roma children.

3.3. Causes for the problems.

3.4. Child’s rights – notions, boundaries of violation and/or inobservance

3.5. Factors influencing the development of children and educationin the Roma community.

4. Local interventions in the field of education and child’s rights. Assessment of the local resources:

4.1. Local policy in regard to the Roma community

4.2. Local educational policy

4.2.1. Debate for integrated education in Velingrad

4.2.2. Debate for integrated education in Rakitovo

4.3. Care and services for children in both municipalities. Initiatives of the institutions.

4.4. Programs of civil organizations

4.5. Feedback – opinions for the programs and the accomplished results by EveryChild

4.6. Review of the recommendations given to EveryChild by the researched groups.

5. Conclusions:

5.1. Approaches to the analysis of the situation in the region

5.2. Extent and forms of violating the right of Roma childrento access quality education

5.3. The program intervention of EveryChild up to the present moment

5.4. Resources and opportunities

6. Recommendations to program intervention:

6.1. General recommendations

6.2. Recommendations to the program intervention in Velingrad

6.3. Recommendations to the program intervention in Rakitovo

7. Annexes

Annex 1: / Framework program for equal integration of the Roma in Bulgarian society
Annex 2: / Strategy for educational integration of children and students from ethnic minorities
Annex 3: / Guidelines of MES for integration of children and students from minorities
Annex 4: / Resolution № 693 dated 6.10.2003 for adoption of an Action plan for implementation of the Framework program for equal integration of the Roma in Bulgarian society for the periodof 2003 – 2004.
Annex 5: / Municipal strategy for protection of children’s rights. Municipality of Velingrad.
Annex 6: / Action plan to the Municipal strategy for protection of children’s rights. Municipality of Velingrad.
Annex 7: / Program for integration of children and students from minorities – municipality of Rakitovo
Annex 8: / Minutes of the focus group - Velingrad
Annex / Minutes of the focus group – Rakitovo
Annex 10: / Methods of the research

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS OF THE RESEARCH

1.1. Objectives and tasks(in accordance with the T.O.R.)

Broad Objective: To assess the extent of rights violation for children of Roma origin in Velingrad and Rakitovo in accessing quality pre-school and primary education, its causes and give recommendations on appropriate interventions.

SpecificObjectives:

-Identify the number of children of Roma origin at primary school and pre-school age against that of other children in Velingrad and Rakitovo who attend kindergartens and primary schools in Velingrad and Rakitovo, establish the type of kindergarten and school they attend and the reasons for attendance or not attendance respectively with particular attention being paid to differences in treatment between boys and girls.

-Identify the number of Roma children against that of other children in Velingrad and Rakitovo who drop out of kindergarten and school, their type (segregated or desegregated) and the drop-outs reasons with particular attention again being paid to gender differences.

-Assess the existing resources and services for children of Roma origin in Velingrad and Rakitovo.

-Assess stakeholders Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) towards inclusive education.

-Assess both children and parents’ views in relation to inclusive education of children of Roma and non-Roma origin.

1.2. Methods and approaches of the research

In the research there have been primarily applied methods and approaches typical for social anthropology – field research, meetings and talks on site until “saturation” of information; in-depth interviews, group discussions with representatives of civil organizations or institutions.

The anthropologic researchhas been carried out following a questionnaire (enclosed in the report), compiled from problematic areas with description of the necessary information, opinions, mutual relations, which have to be gathered from the different sources and target groups of the research.In the questionnaire there have been included exemplary questions regarding the basic themes and formulations. The emphases in the themes and questions discussed were adapted and modified in the course of the research, synchronized with the received results – dominating attitudes, specific problems that have occurred. The questions were asked directly and indirectly – in individual conversations and group meetings, as the specific formulation of the questions was complied with the respondents and the current situation.

The key areas / disputed themes, which were directly and indirectly related to the priorities of the future program intervention of EveryChild Foundation were verified by means of focus groups in both municipalities. Focus-groups aim at testing the attitudes and readiness for implementation of certain educational initiatives directed to Roma children.

Three thematic areas of questions were discussed:

1) Quality education of Roma children:

• What does good education of Roma children depend on? (family and community environment, the child itself, teachers, school).

• Specifics and approaches to level up the quality of education of Roma children. What needs to be changed in order to provide quality education to Roma children?

2) Attitudes towards integrated education:

• What does integrated education mean?
• Segregation and de-segregation of schools – pace, approaches, selection of age groups suitable for “mixing” children from different communities and groups. What is supposed to happen to neighborhood (local) schools?
• Preparation and the reception environment – risks, necessary measures?

3) Rights of Roma children:

• To what extent are the rights of Roma children observed/violated; genderanalysis - equal / unequal opportunities for education of Roma girls.

1.3. Presentation of information sources

The presented quantitative information is a summary of the data, which was presented by local sources during a field research in the towns of Velingrad and Rakitovo:

–Institutions: local authority - Municipality, Municipal council, Labor bureaus, “Social care” Directorates, schools and kindergartens, Departments for protection of the child;

–Local civil organizations, informal Roma leaders.

Some data is quoted with approximation, due to the fact that not all institutions possess or have the capabilities to presentstatistics and precise figures. This imposed the need to juxtapose data received from different institutions in comparison to available statistical data from central sources.Data for the ethnic composition of the two target areas has also been approximated – using secondary data and observations of local experts, institutions and resource people. It is known that in Bulgaria there is no official statistics based on ethnic belonging, and the results of the official census based on self-identification differs from the actual situation.

The characteristic description of Roma neighborhoods was developed on the basis of informationgathered by Roma representatives and at meetings in institutions, during conversations with members of the rest of the communities and groups in the region – in order to compare the assessments, self-evaluations and attitudes towards the problems.

The presented qualitative results and conclusions for the dominating attitudes, mutual relationships and evaluations in the report, are brouht up to the foundation of an anthropologic research, which includes:

1. In-depth interviews in Rakitovo (12) and Velingrad (11) with teachers, school and kindergarten principals, Labor bureau, “Social care” Directorate, Department of Child Protection (DCP), municipal counselors,parents, Roma children – students (from 3rd, 4th and 7thgrade from “Zapad” district in Rakitovo), local leaders and civil organizations.
2. Visits and discussions in schools and kindergartens.
3. Meetings – on-site conversationswith parents from “Zapad” District in Rakitovo, Anezitza and the Asphalt base – Velingrad.
4. Focus groupsfor researching attitudes towards and expectations from the programintervention of EveryChild in the next three years. Focus groups were held by the research team on 23rd July 2004:

-Velingrad with 12 participants – (2 representatives from “Social care” Directorate, 1 - DCP, 7 school principals and primary school teachersfrom both schools with large number of Roma students, 1 kindergarten, 2 Roma representatives), as well as 2 members of the team of EveryChild.

-Rakitovo with 12 participants (1 from “Education” Directorate of Rakitovo municipality, 1 representative of “Social Care” Directorate, 1 - DCP, 3 – principals and teachers from both kindergartens, 3 -from “Future – Rakitovo” Foundation, pastor of Bulgarian God’s Chirch in the district of “Zapad”, 1 Roma leader-businessman, 1 municipal counselor), as well as 1 representative of EveryChild Foundation.

1.4. The Research team

The research was carried out by a team of three people: Roumyan Sechkov (team leader), Ralitza Sechkova and George Bogdanov (research experts). The regional office of “Every child” Foundation in Velingrad and “Future” Foundation in Rakitovo cooperated for the organization of the research, by utilizing contacts and assisting the logistics.

The research was held within 30 days – from 6th July to 6th August 2004 in the towns of Rakitovo and Velingrad, with parallel research activityperformed in Sofia.

1. ROMA COMMUNITIES IN THE TOWNS OF VELINGRAD AND RAKITOVO

2.1. General description of the situation in both target areas

Velingrad and Rakitovo bear the marks of a typical mountain area with mixed population in the Rodopi mountains. These specifics play a major role for the structure of economic fields, specifics of labor forces’ mobility, the large share of seasonal employment, which lead to significant differences of the family income between summer and winter. The problems with isolation and obstructed communication with the regional centre – the town of Pazardzik, are somehow smaller in comparison to other Rodopi municipalities. A more serious problem is the great distance and bad connections between the municipal centre and the adjacent villages, located far into the mountain. Town centres develop their own cultural life, within their local capabilities. In general, people are distinguished by their sense of belonging – self-identification with their town, sensitivity towards the responsibility for town’s progress, and that is less often observed in small rural populated areas.

The comparison between the two municipalities indicated significant differences in the progress, capabilities and dynamics of change. According to the Municipal index for human development (quoted in the National reports of UNDP) in the year 200 the town of Velingrad was placed on 123rd position in the country (with its index of 0.744), and in 2003 it “fell back” to 137th position with index of 0.758, due to the higher growth rates of other municipalities. The municipality of Rakitovo is far from these figures – in the year 2000 it was placed at 260th position with its index of 0.693 (out of 262 municipalities in total). Nevertheless, Rakitovo does not give you a sense of decline, unlike numerous towns with similar issues. One could feel, although lightly, there is more life in the town – inhabitants emphasize that during the last years the municipality of Rakitovo has made step up from 260th to 252nd position (with Municipal index of human development of 0.720 for the year 2003). A less successful is the “march” of the economical indicators for both municipalities – according to data provided by UNDP for 2001, Velingrad is at 193rd position and Rakitovo – at 230th position in Growth Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant.

Unemployment amongst Roma population is many times higher than in other communities and groups, due to reasons of different nature. According to a research held in 2003, the municipality of Rakitovo is placed 10th and Velingrad – 65th amongst all municipalities in Bulgaria, for the extent of Roma unemployment.

An important factor – specific for the Rodopi Мountains, which hinders initiatives for stimulation of employment and additionally de-motivates the unemployed to obtain qualification and a low-paid but secured job – are the opportunities for seasonal income by gathering herbs and mushrooms.In Rakitovo for instance, Roma people employed by the program “From social help to employment” make a good performance – the number of released employees due to violation of labor discipline is on average 1 in 20 people for a year. However, in Social Care Department (SCD) – Rakitovothere are cases where employment positions are available but Roma refuse to work and continue relying on social allowances. Seasonal employment does not require qualification, and often it is quite possible to secure the same amount of annual income in a matter of a few months, without having to observe labor discipline and an eight-hour working day. Education is not a prerequisite either, and that on its own has a de-motivating influence on the attitude towards and need of education amongst Roma families.

Velingrad municipalitytakes in range a wide area of the Western Rodopi involving 23 adjacent villages. The population of the municipality is 43 373 people, (51.07% of which are female) with mixed ethnic composition – 70.5% identify themselves as Bulgarians, 23.9% as Turks, 5.1% as Roma and 0.5% - others. The inhabitants of the municipal center Velingrad are 26257 people, out of which 12516 male and 13741 female.

Velingrad has a mixed population – mostly Bulgarians (Christians), Bulgarian-Muslim, Vlah (about 400-500 people), few Turkish families. The Roma are the greatest minority – according to information provided by the municipality and local civil organizations – the actual number of Roma people in town is reaching 5-6000 people. Outside the town there is another big Roma neighborhoodlocated in the village of Draginovo, where about 500 Roma-Muslim live.

Economics in Velingrad has a much wider profilein comparison to that in Rakitovo – tourism, light industry, logging and woodworking, furniture, agriculture – using modern production processes and intensive cultures. As a tourist area, Velingrad has overcome the typical obstructions caused by the re-structuring and adaptation to contemporary requirements in this economic field.

In the first half of 2003 the level of unemployment in the municipality 35.2% (7326 people are registered, out of total 28724 economically active people). Thanks to the program “From social help to employment” in 2004, unemployment has decreased to 27%, but it is expected to rise again – due to the small volume of newly opened job positions, after the program has been completed, these people will be again released on the labor market. The municipality of Velingrad takes 65th position for its extent of Roma unemployment in the year 2003. The structure of unemployment shows domination of continuous unemployment amongst the Roma community. According to data from 2003 over 31.6% of the registered, 2799 unemployed in town are permanently unemployed with poor education –they are mostly Roma, 70% of them are permanently unemployed, registered for over a year at the Labour Bureau.

RakitovoMunicipality involves 3 populated areas – the town of Rakitovo, Kostandovo (which was recently announced as town) and the village of Dorkovo. The population of the municipality amounts to 16 041 people with nearly equal number of gender distribution (49.88% maleto 50.12% female).

There are about 9000 people living in town, about 3800-4000 of them are Roma (over 40%). Bulgarians are the majority in both the town and the municipal area. The third place by number of inhabitants in the municipal area is taken by Bulgarian-Muslims (they live primarily in the village of Dorkovo and few of them live in Rakitovo). A small group of Vlah lives in the town. The general notion is that “they are the most initiative and most successful” of all minorities – “they have managed to make it out of the hole”, they breed animals and “have money”, many of them have graduated higher education and have a job.

The majorbranches in Rakitovo are logging, woodworking, agriculture – stock-breeding and farming (here is one of the few areas in Bulgaria where they grow hop), gathering and processing of wild herbs and mushrooms. In the light industry there are sewing factories (with production for the domestic market and also for export). Great part of the job positions and sources of income are in logging and woodworking, production ofjoinery, furniture and others. Most of the small factories are still operating as part of the gray economy. Out of 136 operating logging companies 2 years ago, only 7-8 have been made legitimate. At present more companies are legitimate, but their relative share has not yet reached a quarter of the operating factories. A modern factory for woodworking has been opened using funds from the Phare program, and it works observing European standards. Actual salaries fluctuate between 180-200 BGN, with social security payments included on the basis of the minimum monthly salary allowed by law.