25 Sep 2010

RUSSIA / EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION ADVANCER

As many as 50 percent of Roma children in Europe fail to complete primary education, according to the 'Early Childhood Care and Education' regional report to be launched at the first World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in Moscow next week. UNESCO

Posted at: September 25, 2010 11:57 am

Duration: 01:46

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STORY: RUSSIA / EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION ADVANCER
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 1.43
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH/ NATS

DATELINE: RECENT/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2006, Slovakia

1.	Various shots, Roma community

RECENT, PARIS, FRANCE

2.	SOUNDBITE (English) Sue Williams, Spokesperson, UNESCO:
"Education is a basic human right. UNESCO works with a wide range of partners to make this a reality to all children everywhere and whatever their cultural background. In the case of the Roma children, for example we are working with the Council of Europe, to established guidelines that will help government to shape policies that ensure access to school for these children; to adapt school textbooks and design school programmes that work for the Roma; school programmes that are inclusive rather than exclusive."

FILE – 2006, France

2.	Various shots, Roma camps

FILE – 2006, Romania

3.	Various shots, Roma community

RECENT, PARIS, FRANCE

4.	SOUNDBITE (French): Florence Migeon, Section for promotion of rights and Values in Education, UNESCO:
"What UNESCO is promoting is the right to an education for Roma children, as it does for all children. Working with key partners such as the Council of Europe, various meetings of experts have been organized and the main findings presented to the Ministries of Education. The aim is to set up pertinent policies and put them into action for the education of children."

FILE – 2006, Spain

5.	Various shots, School of Flamenco

STORYLINE:

With more than 10 million members, the Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe. Despite the efforts to expand and improve education for Roma children, as many as 50 per cent of those in Europe fail to complete primary education.

These findings are included in the Early Childhood Care and Education Regional Report - Europe and North America, which will be presented and discussed at  the first World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (Moscow, 27-29 September). The report is one of five regional reports on Early Childhood Care and Education prepared for the conference, which is organised by UNESCO, the Russian Federation and the City of Moscow.

The report points to European and national opinion surveys that show many European citizens have negative views about this group that are often based on stereotypes and prejudice dating back several centuries.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sue Williams, Spokesperson, UNESCO:
"Education is a basic human right. UNESCO works with a wide range of partners to make this a reality to all children everywhere and whatever their cultural background. In the case of the Roma children, for example we are working with the Council of Europe, to established guidelines that will help government to shape policies that ensure access to school for these children; to adapt school textbooks and design school programmes that work for the Roma; school programmes that are inclusive rather than exclusive."

UNESCO and the Council of Europe are finalizing guidelines for policy-makers towards ensuring the right to basic education for Roma children, with particular emphasis on improving access to early childhood educational opportunities and their transition to quality primary education. These guidelines, entitled "Including Roma and Traveller Children in early Childhood Education Services" are expected to significantly contribute to making Roma's and Travellers' rights to quality and successful early childhood education a reality, and to guarantee a seamless transition to primary school.

SOUNDBITE (French) Florence Migeon, Section for promotion of rights and Values in Education, UNESCO:
"What UNESCO is promoting is the right to an education for Roma children, as it does for all children. Working with key partners such as the Council of Europe, various meetings of experts have been organized and the main findings presented to the Ministries of Education. The aim is to set up pertinent policies and put them into action for the education of children."

UNESCO is also one of the co-signatories of the International Task Force for the Education of Roma (ITFER), whose mission is to develop and ensure close coordination of the international initiatives regarding the specific domain of the education for Roma, Sinti and Travellers.