The Romanian President, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, awarded the Medal of Merit in Education in the rank of Knight to five Roma Teachers, on December 1st, the country’s national holiday. The teachers had been nominated on a list drafted and submitted to the Ministry of Education by the Roma Education Fund (REF) Romania.
In selecting the nominees, REF Romania followed a set of criteria, such as the degree of involvement of the candidates in solving problems that they had encountered while working in educational institutions that served vulnerable communities, and the impact of the candidates’ overall activity in the development of the Romani language, as well as in promoting the Roma History and Culture.
All the Roma teachers nominated on this list had devoted their entire lives to the education of Roma children. These teachers made themselves noticed through their constant track record of delivering outstanding results in issues such as diminishing truancy and lowering school dropout rates. Such educators had understood that the process of learning needs to be adapted to each individual and to be focused on the student’s needs and ideals.
„We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Education for having included in the list nominated to the Presidential Administration, some of our teachers who have a 12-year-long history of extraordinary cooperation with our foundation in Romania. On a national level, there are more Roma teachers with a record of remarkable results in their respective schools, and at some point, I would like to see their work also being rewarded with such a great honour.” – Claudia LIXANDRU, co-director Roma Education Fund Romania
The initiative of nominating these Roma Teachers as would-be recipients of the medal has been taken by the foundation Roma Education Fund Romania in the context of the 50th anniversary of the first International Roma Congress. Through this initiative, the foundation has sought to celebrate the importance of such a moment by honouring quality education, and, in doing so, has also intended to promote some of the Roma Teachers who have contributed with their effort to the goal of achieving a truly Educated Romania*
The nominated teachers by the Roma Education Fund Romania, who were also awarded the Medal of Merit in Education in the rank of Knight are:
Angelica Olmazu – school principal for the Nr. 1 Secondary School in Gălbinaşi, Călăraşi county. Since 1993, she has been teaching the Romani language to primary and secondary school children in that school. Over the years, Angelica has helped the community in which she was born, by involving it in educational projects that led to a decrease in school dropout rates. REF Romania Foundation has been working in that school since 2010.
Anca-Niculina Bechi – teacher of Romani language and literature, and also a school mediator in the Ormenis Secondary School, Braşov county. She has received numerous awards for excellence from the Ministry of Education, from Braşov County Council and so on. Apart from her teaching and her extra-curricular activities, she has also worked in various programmes meant to aid the educational process of Roma children and stimulated the development of the community.
Ionel Cordovan – school inspector for Bihor County School Inspectorate, responsible for monitoring the programmes that focus on access to education, with additional responsibilities in regards to the Roma minority. He has served as an educational expert with the CRED project and as a member in the National Romani Language Committee in the Ministry of Education. He was also a member in the Evaluation and Supervision Office that implemented the Romanian Government’s Strategy for the inclusion of Romanian citizens belonging to the Roma minority, from 2014 to 2020.
Ion Sandu – school inspector for minorities, responsible for coordinating the Second Chance programme within Ialomiţa County School Inspectorate. He was also an associated university lecturer, part of a cross-cultural education program. He is also a trainer in the fields of Roma history and traditions.
Petronia Scripcariu – school inspector in the areas of Roma language, history, tradition and schooling for Botoşani County School Inspectorate. Over the years, she has trained students who attended national and international competitions, where they obtained awards every year, thus making the municipality of Botoşani renowned for the awards won by its pupils who study the Romani language.
Their stories are soon to be published by REF.
* Educated Romania is the national project initiated by the President of Romania to support the repositioning of society on values, the development of a culture of success based on performance, work, talent, honesty, and integrity.
