Inclusion and education

FIGURE 5.2: 
Most countries have separate schools and classes for national minorities
Number of education systems reporting different models of education for ethnic minorities
Separate schools for national 
minority in home language
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Yes
No
Education systems
Additional subjects for national
minority students in home language
Source: 
Data collected for the regional report on inclusion and education in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
92
GLOBAL EDUCATION MONITORING REPORT 2021

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home language of the largest national minority groups. 
Most involve a common curriculum with the possibility of 
additional classes on the minority culture and heritage. 
In some countries, minorities have a specific curriculum 
meeting national education standards. About 60% of the 
education systems reviewed offer a model with additional 
subjects taught in the minority language so minority 
members can attend mainstream schools while national, 
ethnic and linguistic identities are preserved (
Figure 5.2
).
Roma populations’ curricular needs are beginning to be 
recognized, albeit slowly. In Bulgaria, there are elective 
classes in Romani and Roma folklore. Teaching aids and 
exercise books are available, and Romani language training 
may be provided to learners in preparation for the elective 
classes (Krumova and Kolev, 2013). Following a process that 
began in 2015, Croatia announced a Language and Culture 
of the Roma National Minority curriculum in 2020 to meet 
its constitutional obligation to offer minorities education 
in their home language. Textbooks in Romani are in short 
supply, however, and most Roma in the country do not 
speak Romani, so it is up to parents whether to ask 
the school to provide Roma curriculum. The curriculum 
was developed by a group appointed by the Ministry of 
Science and Education (Roma Education Fund, 2020).
In Romania, all subject areas, except Romanian Literature 
and Language, are taught in multiple minority languages. 
If students from national minorities attend Romanian 
schools or schools of other ethnic minorities, they can 
demand to be taught language and literature, history and 
traditions, and music education in their home language.