NRC

Press release

Skopje and Budapest, 29 September 2008 - Macedonia could be leading the way as a model for the inclusion of Roma, with its commitment to multi-ethnic democracy. Yet when it comes to education, there is so little information available about Roma participation and performance that there is no way to ascertain any show results, whether good or bad. In fact, the data that are available suggest that Roma children are far less likely to complete school, and that those who that do finish , may not have gained the skills they need to find a job after graduation. As a member of the “Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005- 2015” Macedonia has joined international efforts to address the problems facing the Roma community, and the work of civil society groups has focused on bringing Roma communities closer to schools. With real commitment on all sides, Macedonia still has a the chance to show real progress in education for Roma.

These are the main findings included in the Open Society Institute (OSI) monitoring report Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma in Macedonia. Synthesizing the findings of Bringing together the existing studies on the issue issues, as well as bringing to light new data, the report presents a comprehensive portrayal picture of education for Roma. Three case studies, covering Gostivar, Shuto Orizari, and Shtip, reveal important details about local practices and reflect what national policies mean to actual communities. The report was prepared by a team of local experts: Goran Janev and Anica Dragovic of the Institute for Sociological, Political, and Juridical Research, with the research support of Roma activists Redzep ali Cupi, Ibrahim Ibrahimi, and Sabina Mustafa.

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On 16 September 2008, the European Commission’s first ‘EU Roma Summit’ took place in Brussels , under the joint patronage of the Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Asmet Elezovski and Sebihana Skenderovska attend the Summit as representatives of National Roma Centrum.

The Summit aims to promote a firm commitment to tackling concrete problems and to creating a better understanding of the situation of Roma across Europe.

"The European Commission has called for joint efforts by the EU and its member countries to bring Roma into mainstream society. It is urging national governments to step up efforts to help Roma access schools, housing, jobs and health services. Roma leaders and human rights advocates were among 400 people attending the summit organised by the commission. The aim was threefold:

• to raise awareness of Roma needs
• identify the most effective ways to improve their lives
• secure commitments for action

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