An Overview on Romanian Strategies regarding Roma Minority Concerning Education and Employment

Abstract

According to the Council of Europe, Roma population in Romania is about 8.6% representing the largest minority group, exceeding the Hungarian ones. Demographic trends make the problem of the Roma minority even more stringent, through the fact that the population is aging despite of Roma’s positive natural increase. Romanian Government elaborated a Strategy to improve conditions for the Roma, which is permanently updated according to political commitment at the international level, based on the following guiding principles: consensuality, social utility, sectorial division, decentralization in execution, legislative compatibility, identity differentiation, and equality. The education is the key to a better access to the labor market and in last two decades authorities have taken several actions concerning Roma social inclusion, but the results are not the ones expected. It is a fact that, especially in case of children, low life’s level, marginalized communities, rural area, culture and traditions may generate socially exclusion and inequality. The study aims to make an overview of the Romanian governmental policies regarding the improvement of the situation of the Roma minority, especially regarding education and employment. The results of the study could be useful for a better correlation of social policies with impact on living of Roma.

Roma Children’s School Segregation As a Persistent Public Educational System Issue in Romania

“…This phenomenon is characterized by the lack of positive relations between different social groups (Enos & Celaya, 2018). Segregation limits inter-community interactions, causing disadvantage School segregation is described in sociological studies (Patache & Negurita, 2020) as a practice aimed at creating homogeneous classes of Roma students. These school units are created both by "gadjei" ("non-Roma person") and by the Roma community itself.…”

Identifying constraints on Roma minority education provision in Romania

“…According to the latest Romanian Census, the Roma population of Romania is approximately 3.1%, making it the second largest minority group after the Hungarian ethnicity. Other sources consider the numbers to be higher but the Roma, in order to not be stigmatized or discriminated against, do not always declare their ethnic group [1] Starting in 2001, the Romanian government developed the National Roma Integration Strategy (NRIS) to improve conditions for the Roma. The NRIS is continually updated according to political commitment at international level and based on the guiding principles: consensus, social utility, sectorial division, decentralisation of execution, legislative compatibility, identity differentiation and equality.…”