Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma - National Roma Centrum

Extensive minutes from the roundtable meeting 

"Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma" in 

Republic of Macedonia 

organized by National Roma Centrum and supported by EU 

Monitoring and Advocacy Program/OSI 

Education is not a revolution; it is a long 

term process 

March 2009

Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma 

Introduction 

The National Roma Centrum supported by EUMAP/OSI organized 2 roundtables 

meetings on which, Mayors, education advisers from local municipalities, principles and 

pedagogues from primary school and other relevant subjects attended. The discussions 

on these roundtables were about local experiences and national policy about Roma 

education and the recommendations from the EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program 

(EUMAP)/Open Society Institute (OSI) report, “Equal Access to Quality Education for 

Roma”, were reviewed. The participants on these roundtables gave their contribution in 

reviewing of the current condition of inclusion of Roma children in the educational 

process, discussing about education and local self-government, implementation of the 

educational policy, reviewing the recommendations from the report for “Equal access to 

quality education of Roma”. Fruitful discussions from these roundtables ended with 

conclusions and recommendations for further measures and improvements. 

The first roundtable meeting was held 

in Stip on the 4 th February 2009 on 

which representatives from 10 cities 

were invited: Stip, Kocani, Vinica, 

Berovo, Delcevo, Radovis, Veles, 

Sveti Nikole, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka. 

On this roundtable 51 participants 

attended: 3 Mayors, 8 education 

advisers from the local selfgovernments, 

1 municipal referent for 

relations with members of minorities 

and 1 referent from the Social 

Protection Centre from Stip. Other 

relevant representatives were from 

21 primary schools, i.e. 16 primary 

school principals, 17 pedagogues and 

psychologists and there were also 4 

journalists and a Roma mediator 

engaged in the Campaign for 

education of Roma for municipality 

Stip. 

Both meetings were followed up with great attention from the media. 

The second roundtable was held in 

Prilep on the 3 rd March 2009 on which 

representatives from 5 cities were 

invited: Prilep, Bitola, Resen, 

Kavadarci and Negotino. 40 

participants attended this roundtable: 

3 education advisers from the local 

self-governments from Prilep and 

Bitola, 10 principals of primary 

schools, a lawyer from the Social 

works centre from Prilep, 13 

pedagogues and psychologists, 3 

teachers, and 1 parent. Also 7 

journalists were present as well as 3 

Roma mediators engaged in the 

Campaign for education of Roma for 

municipality Prilep. 

- 2 -


Roundtable meeting, 4 th February 2009, Stip 

The introductory speech on the meeting was held by Mr. Stole Naumov, he greeted the 

attendees and wished a fruitful discussion. He pointed out that the purpose of the 

meeting was not to criticize Roma, nor the educational institutions, but to try to see the 

real and current condition for the access of Roma to equal education. 

The Mayor of Stip, as a host city of the 

roundtable meeting, Mr. Pande Sarev, in his 

introductory speech stressed that the 

roundtable meeting has been oriented toward 

the two most important segments for the 

Roma education issues: access and quality 

education for the Roma population and 

"I appeal to the journalists to be 

more constructive and not just to 

look for Roma only for Roma 

stories" – stated Naumov. 

meaning of education in the most extensive view. One of the main priorities of 

municipality Stip, according to the Mayor is inclusion of Roma children in education and 

the local self government is providing concrete support of the Action plans regarding 

education of the Decade for Inclusion of Roma 2005-2015. The Mayor pointed out that 

the municipality is facing new challenges relating to the new law for obligatory high 

school education. The Mayor greeted NRC’s campaign for inclusion of Roma children in 

the educational process, the recommendations from the report of the Open Society 

Institute/EUMAP and the roundtable meeting and said that all these efforts have shown 

concrete results in improvment in the area of education. In all primary schools in Stip in 

the 2008/09 school year total number of 407 Roma pupils have been enrolled which 

represents a 15% increase in the last 3 years, and there are 52 pupils in high schools 

which represent an 18% increase in the last 3 years. Also the civil sector, the high 

sanctions and introducing of obligatory education have made their influence too. 

However there are still some obstacles that have been existent for years back, i.e. the 

season work of the Roma parents at the beginning of the school year, when they take 

their children with them. However the municipality is taking all measures in order to 

enable equal access to all institutions on a local level; the local self government of Stip 

has employed Roma as a referent for members of minorities, which represents a 

positive step further. 

In the part of the roundtable meeting regarding local self-government and education, 

the Mayor of Veles, Mr. Ace Kocevski, expressed his view and mentioned that the 

number of Roma children in the education process has been increased; but still that 

there were 20 children between the ages 12-16 who remain outside of the educational 

process. This number, however, was even greater before when 40 children were not 

included in the educational process in Veles. These occurrences are influenced by 

illiteracy of the parents, low level of parent’s awareness for education, not well socioeconomic 

situation of the families, the resistance towards educational institutions and 

lack of motivation of both: the parents and the children. The number of Roma children 

in education has increased within these last couple of years, as a result of many 

projects, but still more work needs to be done. In Veles 187 Roma children are enrolled 

in the educational process in primary school, 100 of whom are male and 87 female. The 

condition in high school education is worse; there are 35 enrolled pupils, 20 of whom 

are male and 15 female. One of the main problems in Veles for Roma is housing. Many 

Roma live in the settlement called Ramina, where Roma houses are not safe at all, there 

are constant landslides, the houses fall down and water erupts at every step. The local 

self government in Veles has 48 employees and not one of them is Roma, unfortunately. 

"My proposal is in the very near future seriously to open the question of pride and 

ethnical belonging. The Macedonian government in the last period has conducted 

many campaigns for the population, for the Macedonian identity, for promotion of the 

country, for the fact that education is power; however there is a need for a campaign 

for Roma so that they will be proud of their belonging and heritage. More Roma 

positive examples must be promoted among us" – recommended the Mayor Kocevski. 

- 3 -


The mayor of Sveti Nikole, Mr. Slobodan Danevski, also spoke at the meeting and he 

stated that all of us are collectively responsible for being late with the inclusion of Roma 

in our society. He also pointed out that equal treatment must be provided for all ethnic 

communities in Republic of Macedonia. 

Ms. Dzulieta Memedova, a referent for members of minorities from municipality Delcevo, 

said that regarding inclusion of Roma children in education, more work needs to be done 

with the Roma parents so that they may realize that they are also equal and having 

equal rights. 

"The Roma parents need to be more educated. They also must understand that the 

schools are not social institutions" – pointed Memedova. 

The Roma in Delcevo do not live in ghettos and the municipality is involved with 20% in 

budgets in projects implementing for Roma in order to increase the integration of Roma. 

"On the other side, we are aware that the Decade has been signed, the ministries still 

do not have financial means for implementation. The problem is with the institutions 

which need to distribute means from central to local level, and this is not happening" 

– added Memedova. 

The principle of primary school “Dedo Iljo Malesevski” Berovo, Mrs. Vesna Avramska, 

said that Roma children are equally accepted and there is no visible distinction based on 

ethnic belonging. She said that now they are not dealing with inclusion of Roma in 

education, but with quality of education and knowledge. The school is involved in the 

project “Equal educational possibilities” which is being implementing by the Foundation 

Open Society Institute Macedonia, and through this project the school provides free 

school books for Roma children, free snacks, and additional school materials. Now the 

school receives reactions from the majority population. However she also pointed out 

that these Roma generations should be more successful in the future. 

The education advisor from Kocani municipality, Mr. Petre Efremovski pointed out that 

the state is anemic towards the Roma issues, especially in eastern parts of Macedonia. 

He also said that not much can be done because the municipalities have not received 

means for all areas of the Decade for Roma inclusion. Almost all resources and means 

for Roma are being distributed in Skopje, Bitola or Prilep, because the largest numbers 

of Roma are concentrated there, but outside these cities there are Roma too. According 

to Mr. Efremovski, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in cooperation with the 

Ministry of Education must divide resources and means in order for Roma children to 

receive clothing and school materials. Another problem in Kocani are dropping out rates 

and irregularity of Roma children, urgent measures must be taken in order to eliminate 

or at least to decrease these occurrences. 

- 4 -


The pedagogue of the primary school 

“Goce Delcev” from Stip, Mrs. Cvetanka 

Nikolova, said that considering the fact 

that in the school there is a larger 

number of Roma children and according 

to the legal regulative Roma children 

have the right to choose the Roma 

language and culture as elective subject 

which would influence their success. 

"Although the Roma parents and 

pupils are interested, and the 

Macedonian parents as well, the 

school does not have Roma staff for 

this subject. This condition urges for 

immediate lobbying for opening of 

Roma studies which would be very 

significant for producing Roma staff" – 

pointed Nikolova. 

The pedagogue also pointed out that 

there are many different projects who 

offer positive but also negative results as well. Special attention needs to be turned to 

humanitarian assistance as part of the projects, because there are also many poor 

Macedonian children and an impression appears that even though Roma children are not 

very regular in school they are still being awarded. 

The principal of the primary school “B.K. 

Dzinot” Veles, Mr. Todor Najdov, pointed 

out that his school is in the same building 

with the primary school “Blagoj Kirkov” 

and that this school is included in the 

project “Equal educational opportunities 

for Roma children”, which is being 

implemented by the Foundation Open 

Society Institute Macedonia through which 

the children are provided with, free school 

books, free materials and free snacks. On 

the other hand the Roma pupils from “B.K. 

Dzinot” are not included in this project, 

the children were separated, although 

they are learning in the same building. 

The principle of the primary school “Slavco 

Stojmenski” from Vinica, Mrs. Biljana 

Manasieva, said that also in their school the project "Equal educational opportunities for 

Roma children” is ongoing and this project is truly helping the Roma children, but the 

Roma parents are not showing enough interest to cooperate with the school. 

"The parents are having difficulties in communicating with the school and this is why 

more work needs to be done with the parents" – said Manasieva. 

- 5 -


Roundtable meeting, 3 rd March 2009, Prilep 

The education advisor of local selfgovernment 

Prilep, Mr. Marjan 

Matrakoski, in his opening speech, 

stated that the roundtable meeting 

should be very fruitful with 

discussions and analysis of the 

current siuation. 

A representative from the National 

Roma Centrum, Mr. Asmet 

Elezovski, in his introductory speech 

pointed out that all citizens of 

Republic of Macedonia need to 

understand that we should make 

mutual efforts to use the Decade of 

Roma inclusion 2005-2015 as a 

process for minimizing the 

differences between Roma and members of other communities, as well as in the area of 

education. 

Mrs. Naziktere Sulejmani, in her opening speech said that education is a responsibility 

for everyone, and especially the education of Roma children. The urges for promotion of 

the multiethnic society have been developed in Macedonia, and Macedonia has signed 

the Decade of Roma inclusion 2005-2015, however greater action is needed by the 

community and greater field work, developing awareness with the Roma parents so that 

they would prevent their children’s dropping out from school. The Government of 

Republic of Macedonia with a strain of laws and positive actions is working on the issue 

of education: obligatory primary and high school education, free school books for all 

children whose families are social welfare cases, scholarships for Roma children enrolled 

in first year high school. These initiatives need to continue and together with the civil 

sector a contribution must be made in order for a larger number of Roma children to be 

included in the educational process, and some of them would become teachers 

themselves. 

"Roma are not an isolated population and 

they need to progress in regard to 

approach, decentralization and quality of 

education" – added Stoimenova. 

The moderator of the meeting, Mrs. 

Nada Stoimenova, expressed her 

gratitude to the municipality of 

Prilep, the National Roma Centrum, 

EUMAP/OSI as subjects who put the 

Roma issue on the agenda. The 

Ministry of education and science is 

aware that besides all its efforts, not all problems can be resolved and this is why there 

is the cooperation from the civil sector. 

On this meeting the main discussion was about the approach to education and 

contributions for incite of standards for the quality of education. 

- 6 -


In the discussion about the local self government and educational policies the education 

advisor from Bitola local self-government, Mrs. Snezana Petrovska, said that the local 

self government is taking a great care about the education of Roma children. The local 

self government in Bitola has proposed more Roma representatives in the school board 

to be represented and the parental council of the primary school “Gorgi Sugarev” as 

well, because this school has the largest number of Roma pupils. The local self 

government has also developed a proposal for a day care educational stay for Roma 

children so that they could work on their homework or studying of their school materials 

and lessons. This proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Education and Science and 

they are still waiting for a reply. 

The principal of the primary school “Kiril i Metodij”, Mrs. Lili Bosevska, also talked about 

the inclusion of Roma children in the educational process. She pointed out that Roma 

pupils should not be generalized, regarding irregularity or slow progress; however a 

large number of Roma children can be noticed begging on the streets in Bitola. The 

school together with the NRC’s local mediator is making efforts to return these children 

in school. There have been some cases where Roma parents enroll their children in 

order to acquire confirmations for the social services and their children are constantly 

absent from classes. 

The problem with the high dropping out 

rates and irregularity was also stressed 

by the principle of the primary school 

“Mite Bogoevski” from Resen, Mila 

Nonevska. She stated that at the 

beginning of the school year the parents 

together with their children leave on 

season work. The social services must 

"Parents must be educated and 

informed and positive examples must 

be promoted as well as practices, 

because the first, second and third 

graders cannot decide for themselves" 

– said principal Bosevska. 

work more with these families in order to eliminate the problem with seasonal 

migrations. Also more work needs to be done with the Roma families related to 

advancing family relations, because many pupils, second and third graders, remain 

home to take care of the younger children and to help the mother. Many of these 

children also work and earn money for their families. Also there is problem with 

malnutrition of the children. A legislative must be created for creating of fines for 

employers who employ juveniles. The Ministry of Labour and Social policy as well as the 

civil sector must take preventive measures and programs for protection of these 

children. The problem cannot be resolved in a centralistic manner, the activities must 

expand, Roma do not live only in Skopje, in Resen municipality there are no activities or 

information about the Decade of Roma inclusion. 

- 7 -


Mrs. Violeta Lasovska, principle of the primary school “Dobre Jovanovski” from Prilep, 

stated that, the seasonal migration have a great influence, Roma families do migrate 2- 

3 times a year, and the children are the ones who suffer the most, because they miss a 

lot of classes. She also mentioned that that in the last 3 years the civil sector is 

providing valuable assistance for dealing with these problems. She also said that there 

were fines for dropping out from school, but they do not seem to be effective. Also a lot 

of work must be done with the parents for regular attendance in class and hygiene. 

The problem with the children who are outside of the educational process was pointed 

out by the principle of the school “D.A. Gaberot” from Kavadarci, Mr. Angel Kozarinov. 

He stated that there are a lot of children in Kavadarci without primary education, and 

they are above the age limit to be enrolled. The principal Kozarinov urged to the 

Ministry of Education to find solution how these children to be enrolled, who are 9 years 

of age and above. 

The principle of the primary school “D.A. Gaberot” from Kavadarci, Mrs. Godrana 

Jordanovska, pointed out that the school was facing a problem with the children from 

the upper grades. Namely their parents when they go to work take their children as 

well. The children from 5 th grade and above often miss classes and drop out mostly 

because of their bad economic status and social insecurity. 

About inclusion of Roma children and the structure of the school itself, Valentina 

Petreska, pedagogue of the primary school “Gorgi Sugarev” brought out very serious 

problem occurring in the school. Macedonian parents are withdrawing their children from 

the school because of the great number of enrolled Roma children. 

On a question from the moderator relating to what measures and initiatives the school is 

taking to overcome this situation, the pedagogue answered that the Roma children want 

to learn with the other children. The moderator appealed to the school to organize 

workshops with the Roma and Macedonian parents and to do more work with the 

parental councils. 

The principle of the school “Elpida Karamandi” from Bitola, Mr. Ilco Beldzigerovski, 

pointed out that it is very often occurrence in Bitola for children to beg on the streets 

and the authorized institutions remain silent. According to him the government must 

take more appropriate campaigning and action for inclusion of Roma. 

The education adviser in the local self-government Prilep, Mr. Matrakoski, pointed out 

several positive examples that are being conducted in the city, the program for 

completion of education being among them as well as the project on a local level of the 

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy for inclusion of Roma children in kindergartens. This 

project has been supported by the local self government and a Roma is employed as an 

educator. 

The pedagogue from the school “Kliment Ohridski” from Prielp, Mr. Spire Filiposki, said 

that the children who are enrolled in special classes in this school have a categorization 

document obtained through assesment. However they also face with a problem, because 

the school has sent a request for reintegration of children with slight mental disabilities 

in a school for children with slight, moderate and combined obstacles in development, 

but there is still no reply. The children are not yet re-categorized and there is still no 

reply about their capabilities. The pedagogue pointed out that the parents must be more 

educated and not to ask themselves to enroll their children in special classes because of 

material income. 

- 8 -


Mr. Sami Jasarevski, the lawyer from the Centre for 

social works from Prilep, pointed out that many Roma 

families in Prilep are socially unsecured and are social 

welfare users. The problem with education is that Roma 

children do enroll, but from various reasons they do not 

finish their education, also they are often irregular and 

dropping out rates are high, so urgent preventive 

actions must be taken. 

„20% of the population from the region in 

Kavadarci, Negotino, Demir Kapija and 

Veles is without primary education, 15% 

of whom are members of the Roma 

community, our research from 2004 has 

shown. All of these people must be 

included in education for adults”, - said 

Mr. Boris Trajkov, principle of the school 

“Toso Velkov Pepeto” from Kavadarci. 

„The problem is almost common 

for all schools. A fact is that the 

Roma community has problems 

with housing and with its low 

socio-economic status. The 

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy 

must be more included as well as 

the social centers. The Roma 

children are often talented in 

music – why not open more music 

schools, both primary and high 

schools” – said Mr. Ilija Andreev, 

principle of the primary school 

“Goce Delcev” from Kavadarci. 

- 9 -


Conclusions from the roundtables meetings 

Equal access to quality education for Roma is an integrative problem for which intersectoral 

cooperation of all authorized institutions and facilities is necessary as well as 

cooperation with the civil sector. The quality of education, not just access, can be raised 

with regular monitoring of attendance, with upgrading of the quality of classes with 

continued assistance from the schools qualified services and with active involvement of 

all relevant subjects and the wider community. 

The problem with high dropping out rates and irregular attendance of school can be 

surpassed with bigger work with the parents in the community. Roma parents should be 

motivated to take greater part in the work of parent councils. The segregation was 

mentioned as a problem, when Roma children are enrolling in the nearest school or in 

schools where their close friends have been enrolled, closer look is needed when 

children should be divided in classes in order to overcome the problem with many Roma 

children in one class only. Even if the schools are obliged to respect the division of 

children by districts, although there are tendencies all Roma children to be enrolled in 

some schools, which does not led us to integration and development of multi-ethnicity. 

Special attention is needed regarding disposition of children in the classroom and to 

overcome the language barrier. 

Very carefully should be examined the existence of Roma children in special schools, to 

inform the parents about the procedures, and to organize re-categorization of children. 

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the local Centers for Social Protection 

should be more actively involved in overcoming the problems caused by seasonal 

migrations. 

Recommendations 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutions should read the report on "Equal Access to Quality Education for 

Roma" in Republic of Macedonia prepared by EU Monitoring and Advocacy 

Program/OSI 

To make analysis for placement of Roma children in special schools 

Schools should support parents in their choice for elective subject to be 

language and culture of Roma 

To improve the cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science 

and Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in order to have greater protection of 

pupils and to develop mechanisms to overcome dropping-out rates and 

seasonal migrations 

To introduce information about Roma history and culture into the main shool 

curriculum 

To establish Department for Roma studies 

To establish obligatory pre-school education in order to enable Roma children 

to get ready for school enrolment 

To initiate public debates for the issue of segregation 

To employ Roma staff in schools where Roma children are enrolled and to 

iinitiate greater presence of Roma parents in school councils and boards 

To update the database in order to have all children’s data at the beginning of 

the school year 

Local authorities should undertake more proactive measures for enrollment of 

children 

- 10 -


Supplementary 

Photos from the roundtable meetings are available at: 

Stip http://www.nationalromacentrum.org/gallery/eumap/stip_04.02.09 

Prilep http://www.nationalromacentrum.org/gallery/eumap/prilep_03.03.09 

Video is available at: http://www.nationalromacentrum.org/mk/eumap-stip/ 

Media reports are available at: 

http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/makedonija/502492/index.html 

http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspxvId=62566386&lId=1 

- 11 -

Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma - National Roma Centrum

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?