WAYS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ROMA CHILDREN IN SCHOOL: CHALLENGES AND EDUCATIONAL SOLUTIONS IN ROMANIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Roma children's access to education in Romania remains deeply unequal and marked by structural, social, and cultural barriers. The Roma population, predominantly young and concentrated in marginalized urban and rural areas, faces significant effects of school segregation, stereotypes, and institutionalized discrimination (Kóczé & Rövid, 2017; Surdu, 2016). Educational segregation is not an accidental phenomenon; it functions as a mechanism of structural racialization, reproducing ethnic hierarchies and reinforcing social stigma, with severe psychological consequences such as loss of self-confidence, alienation from school, and reduced expectations for the future (Fleck & Rughini, 2008; Troc, 2020; Tzouriadou, 2015). Recent data on the school population (2023-2024) show an overall decline in pupils and students, except at high school and higher education levels, but highlight major imbalances between urban and rural areas and the underrepresentation of Roma children in quality education and in post-secondary and higher education (FRA, 2018). Educational accessibility must be understood as a strategic tool for equal opportunities, which involves adapting the curriculum to cultural diversity, creating an inclusive and supportive school environment, and implementing mentoring and scholarship programs for Roma children (Lazić, 2016; Tzouriadou, 2015). Effective educational interventions must simultaneously address structural and individual factors: institutional segregation, negative stereotypes, urban-rural gaps, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Without such policies, education risks perpetuating the marginalization of Roma children, turning school into a mechanism of intergenerational social exclusion (Kende et al., 2021; FRA, 2018). Therefore, ensuring real and equitable access to education is not only an educational necessity but also a social and ethical imperative for a democratic society. Key words: roma children; educational accessibility; school segregation; structural discrimination; cultural inclusion.