Romania

The project proposes a two-fold intervention aiming to:

1. fill in the existing gap, by putting in practice immediate measures for current pre-university educational specialists – piloting cascade training for teachers in one/ two counties and increasing cooperation between different local actors with attributions in educational sector
2. setting the basis for a more coherent structural change by initiating curricula’s modifications/ improvements at the university level, that would enable the future teachers with a set of skills/ knowledge on inclusive education/ CDC before graduation.

Key Activities:

Pre-University educational system:

Building on the success of previous trainings, EWC is piloting a set of comprehensive measures to address existing gaps in Romania’s pre-university education system. This includes cascade training programs for teachers in select counties, focusing on creating safe, inclusive, and democratic learning environments. Additionally, EWC is fostering stronger cooperation between schools and local authorities to ensure that inclusive policies are effectively implemented at the local level.

The piloting activities are to be implemented in two Romanian counties – Calarasi and Suceava.

Training of Trainers:

During the period 15/20 September 2024 will host a residential training in Oslo for 12 education specialists from the field of teachers’ professional development in Suceava and Colorasi (School Inspectorate, CJRAE and CCD). After the completion of the training course these trainers will form a core group of local experts who will provide ongoing support and guidance to schools across rural and small urban areas, multiplying the impact through further training sessions.

Collaboration Between Schools and Local Authorities:

In October the EWC will hold two residential trainings (40 participants) in Oslo for the joint groups of school principals and representatives of local authorities. We aim to involve principals from the school with a high percentage of Roma students and a significant rate of drops out.

By organizing a joint training for the representatives of local authorities and school management, we would like to foster collaboration and shared responsibility for implementing inclusive education practices and promoting community engagement and long-term sustainability.

A series of 6 School-based trainings in rural areas in Suceava and Calarasi for teaching staff. We aim to reach 180 educators from 30 schools in these counties. The activity aims to enhance their capacity to create schools that safeguard the wellbeing of all children and provide quality education.

By bringing together multiple schools, there is an opportunity for educators and administrators to exchange existing practices and learn from one another. Schools face similar challenges, and collaboration provides a platform for joint problem-solving. Schools can pool resources, share teaching materials, and collaborate on projects. Training together lays the foundation for a sustainable network of schools committed to ongoing collaboration.

Strategic Initiatives:

University-Level Reforms: As part of its long-term strategy, EWC is initiating dialogues with Romanian universities to integrate CDC and inclusive education principles into teacher training curricula. A key component of this strategy is a round table event in Strasbourg organized in a tight cooperation with the council of Europe and study visit to Norway, where Romanian university representatives will exchange experiences and best practices with their counterparts from donor states. The goal is to discuss reforms needed in the Romanian Higher teacher education, ensuring that future teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to create inclusive and safe learning environment and competences to engage with diversity.

Knowledge Exchange and Networking:

EWC is committed to fostering a network of knowledge exchange among education stakeholders in Romania. By organizing forums and collaborative events, EWC aims to create a synergistic approach that encourages continuous professional development and the adoption of best practices across the education sector.

These initiatives are designed not only to improve current educational practices but also to establish a foundation for long-term, sustainable changes in Romania’s education system.