National RSC (Roma, Sinti and Caminanti) Project, Training for New Teachers

An online training course for new teachers of comprehensive institutes involved in the National Project for the inclusion of RSC (Roma Sinti and Caminanti) children. The course aims at providing teachers with a general introduction to the key concepts of the project by stimulating knowledge of the complex Roma and Sinti ‘world’, through in-depth historical and cultural studies, a reflection on anti-Gypsyism and the need to listen to these communities. Special attention will also be paid to sharing approaches and techniques to promote a welcoming and inclusive school for all children.

The Programme

The technical assistance unit offered by the Istituto degli Innocent to this national project has organised five meetings. They will last two hours each and will be held between October and December 2022. The first was held last Tuesday. Francesco Chezzi, of the technical assistance unit, introduced the National Project, whereas Luca Bravi, a member of the Scientific Committee, outlined the essential elements of the history and culture of the Roma and Sinti communities. The second and third meetings, on the other hand, will take place on Thursday 3 and Tuesday 15 November and will be devoted to ‘Methods and tools for an inclusive school and cooperative teaching’. They will be led by Marta Milani, coordinator of the University of Verona's Centre for Intercultural Studies. At the fourth meeting, on Tuesday 29 November, Eva Rizzin (Scientific Committee) will address the issue of anti-Gypsyism and the need to listen to the Roma and Sinti communities. The inclusion of every girl and boy, and schools at the heart of local and national networks will be the focus of the final meeting, entrusted to Suzana Jovanovic and Maria Teresa Tagliaventi (both researchers and members of the Scientific Committee), scheduled for Tuesday, 13 December.

The National RSC Project

The National Project for the inclusion and integration of Roma, Sinti and Caminanti children, promoted within the framework of the Inclusion PON (National Operating Plan) [FSE 2014-2020] actions by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Ministry of Health and the Istituto degli Innocenti, involves the main Italian metropolitan cities: Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Florence, Genoa, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Turin and Venice. The current project continues and expands on the experimental journey started in 2013 with thirteen cities under Law no. 285/1997. In this time span, the involvement of RSC areas, schools, children, adolescents and families has been significantly extended, generating positive developments in terms of consolidation and enlargement of governance (a strategic point for the development of local networks), constant, albeit slow, improvement in school attendance rates, and school success (in terms of admission to the next class).

The general aim of the project is to reduce extreme marginality by promoting social and educational inclusion measures aimed at RSC children and their families in the integration of three main contexts: schools, living spaces, housing, and local networks of services.

Useful Links

The National RSC Project beyond the pandemic: recovery in attendance and promotions

https://www.istitutodeglinnocenti.it/it/notizie/progetto-nazionale-rsc-…

Website of the RSN National Project: https://www.progettonazionalersc.it/