The Soros Foundation Network has made a commitment to devote greater attention to improving educational programming for Roma children in Eastern and Central Europe. As a foundation for this effort, the Education Sub-Board (ESB) of the Open Society Institute (OSI) commissioned a focused research project in September 2000 to examine and learn from existing educational programs, serving Roma children.

Based on criteria developed and recommendations provided by a Roma Education Working Group, seven Roma education programs were identified to serve as the focus for this research. These programs were intentionally selected to demonstrate a range of program approaches and to examine a variety of operational contexts. Their diversity offers important lessons to guide strategic thinking in developing future educational programming for Roma children, youth and their families.

The Final Report presents the research findings, conclusions, and recommendations that were based on the research information gathered on the selected Roma education programs during the seven months of the project (September 2000 through March 2001). A shorter Summary Report was also prepared for submission to the Education Sub-Board. This report emphasizes conclusions and recommendations about each program and across all seven programs from the Final Report. Specific reports also were prepared individually for the seven Roma education programs. Each of these reports included findings, conclusions, and recommendations relevant to the specific program.

(Note: these documents are in Adobe PDF format. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, please download it from Adobe.com by clicking here.)

These documents present the initial thinking and development before the research project began. They constitute the preliminary steps that constitute, in the view of ESP, good practice before any research or evaluation is to take place. They were shared among various stakeholders and their final form was developed from their input.

RESEARCH

1. Data Inventory Sheet

2. Local Research Plan Form

3. Program Profile Form

4. Information Request for Project Director

5. Observation sheet for observing children in mixed classes 

    (example from Slovakia)

6. Questionnaire for Primary School Teachers  

    (example from Slovakia)

7. Guidelines for interview of Organizational Representatives

8. Guidelines for interview or survey of Project Staff

9. Guidelines for interview of survey of School Staff

10. Guidelines for interview of Project Director

Final Report

Part One: 

Introduction and Research Project

Part Two:

Background

Part Three:

Findings

Part Four:

Conclusion

Part Five:

Notes and References

Appendix 1:

Original Research Plan

Appendix 2:

Description of Data Sources

Summary

Report

 

Roma Education Working Group Members

The OSI Education Sub-Board convened a working group on Roma and education between February 2000 - May 2001 whose task was to advise on the development of effective network policies to tackle the cluster of problems surrounding the education of Roma children.  The group met on two occasions for a day in Budapest. This group made the recommendation to undertake the Roma Education Research Project, and they oversaw this work until its completion. They were dismantled as a group when the research was completed and presented to the OSI Education Sub Board for review.

	Recommendations to the OSI Education Sub-Board
	Appendix A  - Justification
	Appendix B  - Evaluation Concept