Shoumen Region - Multiethnical Educational Model
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Bulgaria
Project lead partner/organization and contact person (e-mail, links) project website
Step by Step Program Foundation, Ministry of Education, Shumen municipality and Open Society Foundation – Sofia
Bulgaria, Sofia - 1000
Step by Step Program Foundation
"Hristo Botev" boulevard N21
Phone: 00 359 2 9806508
Cell phone: 00 359 888 215779
Email: emilbuzov@stepbystep-bg.org
Project information – start and end date (if available)
Start date: 2002
End date: 2002
Summary (goals and purposes of the project)
Shumen region includes 10 municipalities and it is characterized by its diverse ethnic composition: 53 % Bulgarians, 29 % Turks, 17 % Roma people and 1 % others.
In the region there is also very good co-operation among the government institutions and the non-government organizations working in the field of education Shumen is the only municipality with registered active municipal Board of School Trustees engaged in implementing the educational policy in the region.
Despite the efforts of the local authorities to improve the quality of the education there are still problems concerning the integration of the minorities. The children from minority ethnic origin, especially those not attending pre-school and do not speak Bulgarian language in the family, they face big problems at first grade. Children are dropping from school because of not knowing or slightly speaking Bulgarian language.
The aim of the project is to improve the quality of education and creating caring community through:
Promoting equal opportunities for access to quality education for children from all ethnic groups;
Promoting interactive teaching methods in the context of the intercultural education and social justice;
Family involvement in the educational process in school.
Results of the project
The Shumen region turned into a model for integration of the children and families from various ethnic backgrounds.
A progress was achieved in overcoming prejudices towards the minorities in Shumen region.
Democratic changes have been implemented by introducing educational technology based on the principals of education without prejudices.
The number of children attending pre-schools raised and the number of drop outs at primary school level have decreased.
The children from minorities achieved better results and positive attitude to education.
Didactical materials and methodological literature have been developed and published, reflecting students’ needs from various minority backgrounds.
Families and representatives from the community were successfully involved in solving the problems in education.
A trainers team was established who can provide similar trainings after the end of the project in order to ensure sustainability of the project outcomes and its expenditure.
Who will benefit from this project (target group)
The target groups are the pedagogic teams and the Board of school Trustees of 30 kindergartens, 20 schools and epresentatives of various institutions.
Sources of funding
Funded by: Open Society Foundation – Sofia
Link
http://www.stepbystep-bg.org/display.php?page=project2