Historical Background

The first four Roma Teaching Assistants (RTAs) were introduced as part of a pilot project aimed at introducing the Step by Step teaching methodology in kindergartens and first through fourth grades of elementary schools by the Budapest based Ec-Pec Foundation in 2001. The Ec-Pec Foundation is an implementing partner of the Roma Education Initiative (REI). The REI launched in 2002 to implement two goals: Eliminate discriminatory processes in the school systems of countries in the Central and East European region and establish, through positive interventions, the conditions necessary to enable Roma children to succeed in school on equal terms with their peers, particularly in the areas of early childhood schooling and literacy.

The RTAs, in the Hungarian context called Roma Family Coordinators (RFCs), were employed to provide help to children with learning difficulties and facilitate a link between the Romani family or community and the school. During the initial recruitment of RFCs, the Ec-Pec Foundation had sought cooperation with the Roma Minority Self-Governments and/ or local Romani Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), to select the most suitable candidates for the position of RFC. To date there are approximately forty RFCs employed at Ec-Pec project sites, within 26 elementary schools and 12 kindergartens. In 2004, the Ec-Pec Foundation filed an application to register RFCs as a profession with the Hungarian Ministry of Education. The Foundation is awaiting a positive verdict in December 2004. The RFC will likely be registered under the title of School Coordinator for Equal Opportunities (SCEO).

The process of introducing RFCs into schools has been extremely difficult. The Ec-Pec Foundation and the RFCs faced racial prejudice and a lack of trust from the local authorities and school management. Since the first year of employment of RFCs, their position has improved. The teachers now show enthusiasm about learning more about Romani children's backgrounds and appreciate the presence of RFCs in the classroom. An anti-bias training, which was provided by the REI and the Ec-Pec Foundation to all school staff, has significantly helped the RFCs in being accepted in the schooling environment.

RFC Job Description

Specific job descriptions of the RFCs are tailored to the needs of each project site. The candidates for the RFC position must have completed eight-years elementary education and be knowledgeable of the condition of the Romani and school community. There are no specifications on the number of RFCs, per number of children, to be employed. In practice the Ec-Pec Foundation has recommended one RFC per fifty children. The RFCs have spent 70% of their time in school and 30% in the Romani community. The specific task of visiting families, even when no problem occurs, is an everyday assignment of each RFC. Some local governments, who have taken over the financing of the RFCs, have positively acknowledged the role of the RFCs. In the remaining cases, about 90% of the RFCs, the Local unemployment office has paid salaries. The Ec-Pec Foundation covers the remaining 10%. The RFCs have been paid minimum salaries, which to date is 56.000 Hungarian Forint (approximately $US 280), about 62% of the average gross salary of an elementary school teacher.

Legal Framework

Since the profession of RFC is solely NGO based, no Ministerial decree was issued to regulate the profession. Some guidance and opportunity for employing RFCs derives from the Hungarian Law on Education, which allows the director of school to employ additional staff according to the needs of the school.

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RFC Training

Between 2001 and 2003 RFCs received training totaling sixty hours. This includes theoretical training combined with practical training and additional mediation between RFCs and school management.

Suggested training methodology of SCEO after possible inclusion in the Register of Professions in December 2004. The length of the training is determined by the curriculum and the number of hours according to the level of the trade and the course requirements of the Hungarian System of Trades (National Register of Trades - Orszagos Kepzesi Jegyzek). The content of the curriculum resulted from a cooperative workshop in which the RFCs, teachers, principals and parents have participated. They defined what subjects the RFCs shall be trained in to meet the requirements of the Hungarian educational system.

Appendix: Relevant Documents

Ec-Pec Foundation
Roma Education Initiative
Step by Step Association

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