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Montenegro
Sites
of the project
National Level External Evaluation (2005)
Implementing
partners
(For
detailed information on REI partners, please visit
the PARTNERS
section of this website!)
Roma
leaders
Veselj
Beganaj
Ismail Pepic
REI
Montenegro was founded in December 2003 and began
implementation in September 2004. In the 2004-2005
year, the project operated as follows:
Number of Sites - 3 (Podgorica, Berane, and Niksic)
Number of schools/preschools - 11
Number of children - 5,988
Number of Roma children - 987
Project
information
The
major implementing partners are Foundation for Open
Society Representative Office Montenegro, the Ministry
of Education and Science of the Republic of Montenegro,
the Pedagogical Centre of Montenegro, and UNICEF.
In the various sites, other implementing partners
are also involved such as Red Cross of Montenegro,
Roma Association of Montenegro, Roma Association
"Pocetak," NGO Enfant - Djeca, and SOS
for Women and Children - Victims of Violence.
Special
emphasis is placed on children ages 3 to 11 years
of age. Other features include the provision of
text books for all Roma children entering Grade
1 and transportation for Roma children in REI pre-schools.
When
asked about the most significant elements of REI,
the Montenegro team identified the team approach
at all levels, including teachers in schools working
collaboratively with Roma teaching assistants and
parents. A systematic approach that includes project
monitoring, materials for children, quality seminars
and trainings, as well as experienced Roma NGO partners
was also mentioned. An example given was when the
Roma NGO approached the school, parents, and the
municipality to organize medical help for children.
Project
Summary
This
project is aimed at bringing the inclusion of higher
number of Roma children into regular/formal school
system. A project developed in the course of last
year in public pre-school unit in Konik area in
Podgorica is an outstanding example of how integration
of young Roma can be successful. Integration and
not segregation would be one of the main aims of
the project in terms of obtaining a high level of
socialization, adequate preparation for the primary
school system and more than satisfactory acquisition
of necessary skills and knowledge which pre-school
aged Roma children should attain in the kindergarten.
Benefits for the parents and Roma community that
stem from the project are also numerous. Roma parents
feel less ignored, they gain necessary skills and
knowledge in health care and they attain motivation
for further education of their children.
The project is taking place in sites in Podgorica,
Nikšic and Berane. Its objectives include:
- Facilitating the practice of Roma children's rights
on education and to provide pre-conditions for their
regular education
- Providing pre-conditions for wider integration
of Roma children and youth into regular school system
- Enabling adequate preparation of children for
the entry into primary school - by means of their
wider inclusion into pre-school education system
as a pre-condition for their more successful inclusion
into primary and secondary schools
-
Cherishing and respecting Roma culture and tradition
-
Educating trainers, associates, Roma assistants
and parents for work with Roma population
- Adapting of the educational system in Montenegro
so as to make it respect the principle of equal
opportunities for all
- Creating of positive attitudes toward Roma children
and their families
- Assisting more successful socialization of Roma
children
- Following and enhancing physical development and
protecting the health of Roma children in cooperation
with local health institutions
- Establishing working group within the Ministry
of Education and Science of Montenegro that would
deal with the problems of Roma children in formal
educational system
- Educating and training of Roma NGOs in terms of
correct and most efficient ways of fight for rights
of Roma children
- Increasing academic performances of Roma children.
Photo
section of the project
REI
project model - Montenegro (Powerpoint presentation)
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