OSCE Presence in Albania enables Roma children to attend school

The OSCE Presence in Albania ensured that 160 Roma children in the town of Fushe-Kruja in central Albania are able to continue their education this school year, by covering the rent, as the school is in private premises, and donated 170 books and three computers.

Visiting the school on 15 December 2011, the Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, said: “The right to education is a key element in ensuring the rights of minorities. Education is one of the main factors which can contribute to breaking a ‘vicious circle’ of Roma marginalisation. Education equips children with tools which allow them claim a better future for themselves and their community and ultimately help secure full inclusion of Roma into society.”

Fushe-Kruja Mayor Gjon Bardhi; Durres Prefect Genc Alizoti the Chairperson of the Regional Council Eglantina Begteshi; and Regional Director of Durres Education Office, Filip Gjonçi also attended the ceremony.

Wollfarth added that the full integration of Roma into society will become a reality only when Roma children are able to attend classes with their non-Roma peers. “To combat de facto segregation and fully implement the goals of the National Strategy on Improving Roma Living Conditions and the objectives of the Roma Inclusion Decade initiative, to which Albania is a member, we encourage all responsible parties to ensure that Roma pupils of this centre are enrolled to regular schools in the next academic year,” he said.

He stressed the OSCE Presence’s support to the Education and Science Ministry in implementing policies aimed at full integration of Roma children into mainstream schools.