Practices in Preventing Practices in Preventing School Abandonment in School Abandonment in Bucharest’s 5Bucharest’s 5th th and 6and 6thth

Sectors Sectors

by by Anice Gabriala Dragoi, Col. Teh. “Petru Maior”Anice Gabriala Dragoi, Col. Teh. “Petru Maior”

Alexandra Vlaicu, Sc. Gen. Nr. 114Alexandra Vlaicu, Sc. Gen. Nr. 114Mihai Iacob, Sc. Gen. Nr. 136Mihai Iacob, Sc. Gen. Nr. 136

Targeted populationTargeted population• Children aged 12 to 16 and aboveChildren aged 12 to 16 and above• Ethnic minorities and immigrants Ethnic minorities and immigrants • Children with special educational needsChildren with special educational needs

Type of policyType of policy• Regional policy aimed at reducing social exclusionRegional policy aimed at reducing social exclusion

Implementing bodiesImplementing bodies• CMBRAE (The center coordinating school counselors, CMBRAE (The center coordinating school counselors,

mediators, support teachers, speech therapists)mediators, support teachers, speech therapists)• DGAPS (local governmental agency for the DGAPS (local governmental agency for the

implementation of social policies)implementation of social policies)• International, national and ethnically run NGO’s International, national and ethnically run NGO’s

CulturallyCulturally:: an ethnically mixed environment, with a an ethnically mixed environment, with a large Roma population, and sizable Arab and Turkish large Roma population, and sizable Arab and Turkish communitiescommunities

EconomicallyEconomically:: huge discrepancies between huge discrepancies between residents of the central and peripheral parts of the residents of the central and peripheral parts of the sectors, ranging from very wealthy residents to extreme sectors, ranging from very wealthy residents to extreme poverty.poverty.

Socially:Socially: low incomes, a high rate of unemployment, low incomes, a high rate of unemployment, crime, drug trafficking.crime, drug trafficking.

BackgroundBackground

Main triggers of school Main triggers of school abandonmentabandonment

• Cultural prejudiceCultural prejudice ( (early marriages, illiteracy of early marriages, illiteracy of

the parents, social stigmatathe parents, social stigmata))

• Economical hardshipsEconomical hardships ( (losing the supporting losing the supporting family members, children forced to work at early ages, family members, children forced to work at early ages,

large familieslarge families))

• Institutional shortcomings Institutional shortcomings ((lack of proper lack of proper

training in addressing the educational needs of childrentraining in addressing the educational needs of children))

PracticesPractices

Neighborhood census – Neighborhood census – identifying children identifying children not registered in school not registered in school

Training teachers and social workersTraining teachers and social workers Helping parents register kids for schoolHelping parents register kids for school Meetings with the parents Meetings with the parents Attendance incentives: Attendance incentives: school kits, clothingschool kits, clothing Monitoring children’s attendanceMonitoring children’s attendance

ProgramsPrograms

““Second chance”Second chance” ((schooling for children who are past the normal age for schooling for children who are past the normal age for

attending a certain gradeattending a certain grade))

After-school programs After-school programs ((usually run by NGO’susually run by NGO’s))

ConclusionsConclusions

No single institution seems to be able to cope with the No single institution seems to be able to cope with the whole range of problems related to preventing school whole range of problems related to preventing school abandonment.abandonment.

The results tend to be easier to attain when employing The results tend to be easier to attain when employing members of the targeted communitymembers of the targeted community ( (e.g. school mediators for e.g. school mediators for

the Roma communitythe Roma community).).

Building a reputation with the local community, however Building a reputation with the local community, however lengthy that process is, seems to be the only way lengthy that process is, seems to be the only way durable change can be implemented.durable change can be implemented.

It’s always worth fighting for the It’s always worth fighting for the smile of a child.smile of a child.