site.btaParliamentary Education Committee Hosts Annual Meeting with Roma Teachers

The annual meeting with Roma teachers was hosted by the parliamentary Education and Science Committee here on Thursday. Caretaker Minister of Education and Science Galin Tsokov took part in the meeting, held at the initiative of the Amalipe Centre for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance.

Tsokov said, as quoted by his Ministry's press centre, that when it comes to educational institutions with vulnerable groups, the topic of early child development is key as it lays the foundation for keeping and effectively including children in the education system. He put an emphasis on the work of educational mediators, who play a key role in inclusion of vulnerable children in school. It is important to work on supporting the mediators' qualification and broadening of competencies, he added.

Education and Science Committee Chair Krasimir Valchev put an emphasis on the importance of adequate funding for schools with vulnerable groups and for staff motivation. According to him, the problems with school dropouts is more often for social and cultural reasons, and that is the area in which the institutions should focus their efforts.

Amalipe head Deyan Kolev expressed gratitude that for yet another year, MPs and the Education Ministry's team participate in this discussion. The teachers gave proposals for improving children's education and presented some of the issues they face at work.

The Education Ministry's budget includes over BGN 36.7 million for work with children and pupils from vulnerable groups this school year, BTA recalls.