Budapest, April 3, 2007—Continued progress in improving equal access to quality education for Roma will require strong commitments from donors and the backing of national governments, stressed the participants of the conference “Education Reforms and Roma Inclusion in Central and Eastern Europe,” hosted by the Roma Education Fund (REF) and the Government of Hungary.
“Countries such as Hungary have made progress in collaboration with REF on Roma student enrollment and attendance,” pointed out REF Board Chairman Costel Bercus. “However, the quality of education to which Roma children have access has not improved and has even declined in some places. Segregation of Roma communities has increased, further harming equal access to education.” The Roma Education Fund’s first major conference in its two years of operations brought together government representatives, donors, and Roma civil society. REF Board member and World Bank Country Director Annette Dixon, as well as Open Society Institute chairman George Soros in a video message, called on donors to solidify their commitments to ensure that REF’s successful projects can be scaled up, such as school integration and access to preschool education. Conference participants shared their experiences in panel discussions and roundtables, bringing to light best practice examples, such as the importance of involving parents and the Roma community in education reforms, and the improved educational outcomes for students in integrated classrooms. Several innovative examples of collaboration were shared, such as a program in Hungary that works with Roma secondary school students to prepare them for employment in the private sector. However, government cooperation is required to implement and enforce anti-discrimination and desegregation laws, and projects must be tailored to the specific situation, as no panacea exists for all cases. Donors, governments, and NGOs must also work together to optimize the use of the European Union’s Structural Funds in the new member states. “Our commitment to Roma is a litmus test for the EU on whether it can deliver,” said EU Commissioner for Education Jan Figel. “Structural Funds provide an unprecedented opportunity to improve education and the living situation of Roma, and projects should ensure best value for the money invested.” Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány announced a new education law that as of January 1 prohibits segregation, and in coordination preschool curriculums are also being developed. Until now in Hungary, Roma children were often grouped together in special education classes regardless of their level of ability. As of July 1, Hungary will assume the secretariat of the Decade of Roma Inclusion, which rotates annually among the nine member states. The government’s priority will be to spotlight Roma segregation as a concern for all of Europe to address. *** For more information on the conference and the Roma Education Fund, visit:
http://www.romaeducationfund.hu | 
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