Results achived after the first phase of project implementation
On July 28th, 2022, “Ştefan cel Mare” University from Suceava in partnership with the Association for Support in the Development of the Social Economy – Inclusion, Cooperative Responsibility, Social Entrepreneurship from Tulcea, organized a press conference in which were presented several intermediary results within the project “Integrated children and youth for a better world”.
The project benefits from a grant of € 1,212,665 provided by Norway through Norwegian Grants, within the Local Development Programme. The aim of the project is the integrated and innovative approach of several target groups consisting of: 80 children and young people with special educational requirements; 790 children and young people at risk of early dropping out of school; 211 teachers and 500 parents/guardians of children at risk; 10 professionals/volunteers from the sphere of social services; 150 children/young people, respectively 50 of their parents/guardians, who interact with children and young people from the main target group – in order to increase the degree of social inclusion of children from three development regions in Romania.
The online event was attended by representatives of the Romanian Social Development Fund, implementation team, principals and teachers from the 14 associated schools – suppliers of the target groups (from Suceava county – Panaci Secondary School, Şerbăuți Secondary School, Siminicea Secondary School, Măriței Secondary School, Drăgoiesti Secondary School, Pătrăuți Secondary School, Mitocu Dragomirnei Secondary School; from Botoșani County – Manoleasa Secondary School; from Harghita County – “O.C. Tăslăuanu” Bilbor Secondary School ; from Tulcea County – Valea Nucarilor Secondary School, “Nichifor Ludovig” Niculitel Secondary School , Beștepe Secondary School, Frecăței Secondary School, “Vasile Alecsandri” Nufărul Secondary School).
During the meeting were emphasized several aspects regarding the fulfillment degree of the assumed indicators, as well as the future activities in the project. So far:
- were elaborated the specific methodologies regarding the identification and monitoring of children at risk of dropping out of school / children with possible learning difficulties, psychobehavioral difficulties or disabilities; was carried out the selection procedure of each target group.
- were selected/monitored 587 children at risk of early dropping out of school and 87 children with possible learning and psycho-behavioral difficulties from associated schools.
- the children target group benefited from “school after school” educational support services and was involved in various activities, regarding environmental protection, nature orientation, sports, team work and team bulding, creative activities: painting, dance, theater, photography, music, pottery, knitting, origami, ikebana, tracery, science lab etc.
- 170 teachers participated to training courses, regarding work with children and young people at risk of leaving school early, respectively work with children and young people with special educational needs (81% of the assumed target).
- were provided parental education courses for parents/guardians of children at risk of dropping out school/special educational needs in the target group: 380 parents of children or young people at risk of early school leaving (approx. 80% of the assumed target) and 42 parents of children or young people with special educational needs (175% of the target).
Participating teachers particularly appreciated project activities, emphasized the interest shown by the children and the specific role of the project in strengthening closer ties between families-school-community and school performance of pupils. Regarding the aspect, the principals of the secondary schools in Panaci and Siminicea recalled that the additional hours of Romanian Language&Literature and Mathematics, within the “school after school” support program, were positively reflected in the results obtained at the National Assessment (the graduation rate was higher than before, up to 100%).
The specific activities in the project will continue in the next school year for another 283 children and other actions are planned – such as inclusive education and school segregation fight, parenting education programs (for 120 parents), organization of a postgraduate course approaching inclusive education and special needs/disability issues (for 46 teachers).
The project “Integrated children and youth for a better world”, code PN2019, within the call INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK, is implemented by the “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava (Project Promoter) and the Association for Support in the Development of the Social Economy – Inclusion, Cooperative Responsibility, Social Entrepreneurship from Tulcea (Partner) between January 2021 – December 2023.
More details are provided on the websites of the Funding Agency www.eeagrants.ro, of the Programme Operator – www.frds.ro and project’s web pages – https://ctil.usv.ro/ .