Co-ordination of Traveller Education

The Department of Justice and Equality published the National Traveller Roma Inclusion Strategy in June 2017. The Department of Education and Skills participated in the development of the strategy and is a member of the Steering Group which was established to oversee the implementation of the new strategy. Membership of the Steering Group includes all relevant Government Departments, Agencies and NGOs.

The strategy takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of Travellers and Roma in Ireland in practical and tangible ways. Departments have worked together to identify actions that can be taken to bring about a real improvement in the quality of life for Travellers and Roma. It is also aims to improve public service engagement with Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. There are 149 actions in the strategy covering the themes of Cultural Identity, Education, Employment and Traveller Economy, Children and Youth, Health, Gender Equality, Anti-discrimination and Equality, Public Services, Accommodation and Traveller and Roma Communities.

Key education-related actions proposed in the NTRIS include:

• Traveller and Roma should be supported in key areas including education, employment and economic development
• the development of education resources on Traveller and Roma culture and history for use in primary, post primary and adult education settings
• improved access, participation and outcomes for Travellers and Roma in education to achieve outcomes that are equal to those for the majority population
• SOLAS and ETBs to consider the needs of disadvantaged groups including Travellers and Roma in the planning of FET provision
• strengthening of cooperation between formal education and non-formal learning sectors to address the high rate of early school-leaving in the Traveller and Roma communities
• a positive culture of respect and protection for the cultural identity of Travellers and Roma across the education system.

NTRIS PILOT BASELINE RESEARCH REPORT; “OUT OF THE SHADOWS – TRAVELLER AND ROMA EDUCATION – VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITIES”

Responding to specific actions in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy and in the DEIS Plan, a pilot project aimed at improving Traveller and Roma attendance, participation and retention in schools is in place in four locations. The pilot is supported by funding from the Department of Education and from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The pilot has been developed in partnership between the Department of Education, Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, Tusla Education Support Service and Traveller organisations.

A baseline research report was commissioned to gain an understanding of the baseline context across the pilot sites. This baseline research report will also be taken into account as part of the overall evaluation of the pilot projects which will be going to tender shortly.

The research report is available here. ( HOME - pinkflowerresearch )