Educational Mediator for the Integration of Roma Children
The educational mediator will contribute to the active involvement of parents in their children's education
The Ministry of Education and Research, in partnership with UNICEF Moldova, has launched a pilot project aimed at establishing the role of an educational mediator to facilitate the integration of Roma children into schools. This specialist will serve as a liaison between the school, family, and community, and will monitor school attendance and class participation of Roma students, thereby contributing to the prevention of school dropout, absenteeism, and the fight against bullying.
The educational mediator will also support the active involvement of parents in their children's education. The first specialists are expected to begin their work in Otaci and Soroca—localities with a low inclusion rate of Roma children in schools.
The project launch event took place during Roma History and Culture Week (April 2–8), which concludes with International Roma Day, celebrated annually on April 8.
Present at the project launch event, Ivan Duminica, Head of the Interethnic Relations Policy Service within the Ministry of Education and Research, emphasized: “The inclusion of Roma children in the education system is supported through public policies, sustainable partnerships, and effective monitoring mechanisms. Only through genuine collaboration between authorities, civil society, local communities, and international partners can we create an equitable and inclusive educational environment for all children.”
Mihail Platinda, Roma Inclusion Specialist at UNICEF, added during the event: “This initiative addresses a real and pressing need — ensuring equitable access to education for Roma children from the most vulnerable communities. By engaging school mediators, we aim not only to increase enrollment rates, but also to build a bridge of trust between the school, family, and community.”
The launch event was also attended by representatives of international organizations such as the UN Refugee Agency, the UN Office for Human Rights, local education authorities, as well as NGOs — the "Voice of Roma" Coalition, Tarna Rom, Caritas Moldova, and People in Need Moldova.
