THE EDUCATION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN ROMANIA – THE CASE OF ROMA WOMEN

Abstract

The Roma ethnicity is consistently recognized as the poorest and most vulnerable from Romania. The main problems faced by the Roma ethnic people are insufficient incomes, the lack of vocational training, a low level of formal education, unemployment and limited access to public services. The most vulnerable group from this ethnicity is represented by women. The discrimination to which the roma women were subjected, from an historical point of view, within the family (low access to education and employment) has been extended in the society, in interaction with public institutions, with employers - partly due to poor vocational training or lack thereof. Access to formal qualification is subject to completion of compulsory education level (10 classes), and among women's rights, statistics show that school dropouts is very often in the early years of school.   The present work contains an analysis of the existing potential of Roma women in Romania, as well as a series of actions and solutions of socio-educational inclusion transferable at European level. The investigation carried out at the registration of the following characteristics of the investigated group: demographic characteristics, environmental characteristics, knowledge concerning the training/education, opportunities for further development of education and vocational training. These data will be included in solutions designed to ensure equal access to education for roma women, integration in an active life and in the society and the best possible use of their potential, essential for a sustainable development in Europe.