Ensuring quality education for Roma children helps societies curb poverty and exclusion, say ODIHR event participants

Access to quality and inclusive education for Roma and Sinti was the topic of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human rights (ODIHR) on 3 October 2022 in the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

"In strong and healthy societies, everyone has a chance to succeed and thrive. Exclusion from education may lead to illiteracy and lack of competitive skills on the job market, pushing people into unemployment, poverty and lack of prospects,” said Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Children and Security. “Ensuring access to quality education for Roma and Sinti children brings benefits to everyone and contributes to the overall development of countries and nations.”

Education experts, representatives of OSCE participating States and civil society shared their assessments of anti-segregation policies in education, access to desegregated schools for Roma and Sinti children, as well as key educational reforms and their impact on Roma and Sinti children. They also discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Roma and Sinti educational outcomes.

“Education remains a treasure to be passed on to the next generation of children and future citizens. It is vital that Roma and Sinti children have equal opportunities in education,” said Costel Bercus, Executive Chair of the Center for Education and Human Rights (ACEDO) in Romania. “As a society, we are responsible for ensuring that each and every child has access to education and benefits from it.”   

Participants noted that education is a prerequisite for the equal inclusion of Roma and Sinti communities in political, social and economic life. They stressed that decision-makers must address the substantial gaps which exist in education for Roma children compared to non-Roma.