Traveller and Roma Education Strategy Consultation

Monday 11 December 2023 1:00pm 1:30pm Registration; light lunch, teas and coffees 1:30pm 1:40pm Welcome 1:40pm 2:00pm Presentation: Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2:00pm - 3:15pm Workshop 3.15pm 3.30pm Feedback on workshop 1 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Traveller and Roma Education Strategy Consultation with school communities Social Inclusion Unit 11 December 2023

Development of a Traveller and Roma Education Strategy The Department of Education is working to develop the strategy. This work includes: Setting up governance structures; planning consultations Consultations: questionnaires, meetings/workshops, ensuring alignment with next iteration of National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Gathering research and evidence Developing a strategy and implementation plan 3 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Public consultation First strand of consultation: public consultation 17 July: online survey published on the Department s website; press release issued July: over 100 responses October information push: substantial increase in responses - letters to all primary and post-primary schools - letters to wide range of stakeholders with request to circulate widely - daily social media posts Twitter, LinkedIn etc. 30 October 2023 - public consultation survey closed Total survey responses: 424 4 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Survey Questions 1. What current actions, policies or processes are working well? What is having a positive impact on Traveller and Roma education or care? 2. What are the challenges or barriers that the Traveller and Roma communities currently experience in primary, post-primary and early learning and care/ school age childcare? 3. What actions do we need to take to address the challenges or barriers you identified in question 2? 4. What is your vision for Traveller and Roma education in Ireland? 5 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Breakdown of Respondents Demographics 6 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Breakdown of Respondents Demographics 7 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Breakdown of Respondents Demographic 8 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Respondents that wish to be contacted for further consultation 9 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Targeted Consultations 1. Traveller and Roma families and communities 2. Education system Education system (partners and key stakeholders) Retention (questionnaire) School communities (today) 3. Children and Young People 10 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Emerging thematic areas 1. Experience in education: inclusion, belonging, diversity, including bullying, racism and discrimination 2. Success in education: equality of access, opportunities and outcomes, including enrolment, attendance, participation and retention 3. Successfully moving into, through and out of education: transitions from early years to primary schools; from primary to post-primary; and from post-primary to further/higher education and/or the world of work 4. Relationships, connections, links and supports, including between parents/guardians, schools and communities 5. Strategic elements: responsibilities, resources and accountability, including Traveller and Roma participation, monitoring and measuring, and sharing/disseminating good practice 11 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Theme 1: Experience in education: inclusion, belonging, diversity, including bullying, racism and discrimination Examples of challenges and issues identified Traumatic historical experiences and low expectations of teachers Lack of understanding in system of the lived experience of Traveller and Roma people Traveller and Roma children and young people feeling looked down on and less than others Q1: How can we foster a better understanding within the school community of Traveller and Roma cultural differences, and the challenges faced by these communities in the education system? 12 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Theme 2: Success in education: equality of access, opportunities and outcomes, including enrolment, attendance, participation and retention Examples of challenges and issues identified Persistently poor attendance - crucial learning missed, including SET supports Perceived unfairness - suspensions, expulsions and Reduced Schools Days In-classroom segregation based on low expectations Poor literacy and numeracy skills Q2: How can schools help to enable greater success for Traveller and Roma children and young people in school attendance, participation and retention? 13 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Theme 3: Successfully moving into, through and out of education: transitions from early years to primary schools; from primary to post-primary; and from post-primary to further/higher education and/or the world of work Examples of challenges and issues identified: Pre-school poor uptake of places Primary to post-primary poor literacy and numeracy, discrimination or racist bullying, stark differences in terms of level of difficulty, supports available, exam pressure and feeling excluded Access to further education off-putting registration processes (level of detail; online poor (digital) literacy etc.) Employment prospects linked to perceived value of education Q3. What would facilitate easier and more successful transitions for Traveller and Roma children and young people moving from: primary into post-primary school from post-primary to further and higher education? 14 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Theme 4: Relationships, connections, links and supports, including between parents/guardians, schools and communities Examples of challenges and issues identified for parents/guardians Literacy barriers - communication with schools; supporting child s education Lacking confidence or positive past experience to engage with school Challenges at home e.g., poverty; accommodation; mental health Not knowing where to go for school and other supports Value of education /awareness of importance of regular school attendance Lack of support from within Traveller/Roma families/communities Community links schools not engaging well with Traveller and Roma organisations Workshop Q4 -How can schools engage effectively with Traveller and Roma families and organisations? 15 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Theme 5: Strategic elements: responsibilities, resources and accountability, including Traveller and Roma participation, monitoring and measuring, and sharing/disseminating good practice Examples of challenges and issues identified Travellers and Roma as two distinct communities Monitoring - absence of data on what is working well in schools; failure to track across the system Accountability of schools for Traveller and Roma outcomes, including literacy and numeracy skills Failure to share good practice across schools Q5 - How can Traveller and Roma education be included as part of school improvement planning; and how can good practice in schools best be collected and shared? 16 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Workshop Questions Q1- How can we foster a better understanding within the school community of Traveller and Roma cultural differences, and the challenges faced by these communities in the education system? Q2- What would work at school level to enable greater success for Traveller and Roma children and young people in school attendance, participation and retention? Q3. What would facilitate easier and more successful transitions for Traveller and Roma children and young people moving from: primary into post-primary school from post-primary to further and higher education? Q4- How can schools engage effectively with Traveller and Roma families and organisations? Q5-How can Traveller and Roma education be included as part of school improvement planning; and how can good practice in schools best be collected and shared? 17 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

World caf style workshop 1 2 3 5 4 18 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Thank you Contact: tres@education.gov.ie Social Inclusion Unit 11 December 2023 19 An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education