Access to education for Roma children in Moldova is uneven, with the main issues including low enrollment rates, chronic absenteeism and high dropout rates, finds a thematic report compiled by the Office of the People’s Advocate for Children’s Rights, with the financial support of UNICEF Moldova.
Frequent unexcused absenteeism has become a common practice for Roma students. This negative phenomenon, associated with low enrollment and school dropout, generates uneven access to education for Roma children, says the expert Ion Duminică, author of the report.
The quantifiable rate of compulsory school inclusion for Roma children of school age (7–16 years), attested in compulsory general education institutions (primary/secondary cycle) in 54 localities densely populated by Roma, was 72.5% in September 2023.
The rate of educational inclusion of school-age Roma children is affected by the socially-vulnerable home environment, determined by the complex social profile of Roma parents, who are persistently faced with the vicious circle of poverty from the position of “illiterate/unemployed/socially marginalized people”. Due to limited family budgets, a significant part of Roma parents can afford to send only one child to school, with the rest staying at home.
The Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Vasile Coroi stated that the report aims to see how international standards regarding access to education for Roma children are observed. The report focused on non-discrimination, including in education, which is one of the four principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Loujine Khoury, UNICEF Moldova education specialist, noted that access to education is a fundamental human right. Every child, regardless of status or ethnicity, deserves equal opportunities to learn and grow. Roma children are among the most vulnerable groups in Moldova and other countries in the region. Even if efforts are made for inclusion, there is a low enrollment rate and a high dropout rate.
The report shows that in Soroca and Otaci, which are homes to large Roma communities, there is a low enrollment rate among children. Difficult access to education exposes children, especially girls, to great risks, such as early marriage and early pregnancy, and gender-based violence. Education empowers children with knowledge and thus risks are prevented, added Loujine Khoury.
The authors of the report recommend the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to create special policies and adjust the legal framework to ensure and monitor Roma children’s access to education.
