The idea to conduct a more careful study of Roma schools in Bulgaria was born in the summer of 2000 after a meeting between officials from the Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues at the Council of Ministers and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The meeting was held as a part of the governmental Program for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society.

     Educational issues were discussed, and striking similarities were observed amongst the individual cases.
The original idea was limited to defining the problem on a quantitative basis: it aimed at the creation of a directory of districts and municipalities, which would help non-governmental organizations focus on places where systematic work has never been executed properly. This research continues the study "Roma in the Educational System in Bulgaria" (IEP 2000), made by J. Tanaka. The individuals who were directly involved in the management of regional, municipal and primary educational institutions were expected to present the main body of information. This created conditions for developing the idea further. The data collected for the directory were used for the purpose of this research, which could be constantly updated.

     The Expert Council of the Open Society Foundation's Education Program formed a team, which was responsible for the realization of the research project. All members of the Expert Council, including program directors K. Razsolkova and N. Kristanova, helped a lot in defining the project framework. The team included representatives from the Roma Program of the Open Society Foundation - Sofia, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science. We owe great thanks to Christina McDonald from IEP-Budapest for her help. She encouraged us to conduct this research and gave us precious advice for the presentation of its results.

     We want to thank all team members and future participants

• who would clarify and give additional information about the project on the following addresses:

Education Program
Open Society Foundation - Sofia
56, Solunska Str.
Sofia, 1000
Borislava Gabrovska
Phone: (02) 930 66 53
Website: www.osf.bg

• and all who would support Roma schools included in this research

Dimitar Denkov (Res. Manager)
Elitza Stanoeva (Assistant)
Vasil Vidinsky (Assistant)

Sofia, October, 2001