The Republic of Bulgaria has endeavoured, over the last three decades, to address the stark injustices evident in the socioeconomic situation of the majority of its Roma citizens and as evidenced in the country’s National Roma Integration Strategy 2012–2020. These efforts have accelerated since 2007, when Bulgaria became a full member of the European Union (EU). At present, Bulgaria is making important steps towards creating a national framework for early childhood development, a goal that remains high on the national...

This report on the early childhood education and care (ECEC) of young Roma children in the Czech Republic departs somewhat in its approach from previous Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI+) Studies and Reports. The preparation of this report was led by the Open Society Foundations. The RECI initiative, which is ongoing, is a joint venture of three Sponsoring Agencies, namely: the Open Society Foundations Early Childhood Program, the Roma Education Fund, and UNICEF. The principle reasons for a Special Report...

A detailed picture of early childhood policy and provision frameworks in Macedonia, highlighting the barriers and opportunities for improving the access of Roma children to appropriate and high-quality early childhood development (ECD) services. The principal objective of the report is to provide data on young Romani children’s exclusion from society and to make this available to decision makers and key stakeholders that work on early childhood policies and programs. In order to protect the Roma community from the risks of...

The Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI) reports build a detailed picture of early childhood policy and provision frameworks, highlighting the barriers and opportunities for improving the access of Roma children to appropriate and high-quality early childhood services. The principal objective of the Reports is to make information and data on young Roma children’s exclusion available to decision makers and key stakeholders with a view to advocate for equitable early childhood policies and programmes. In the first chapter, the report shows the...

The Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI)+ Slovakia Report (2017) maps the current state of the system of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Slovakia. In particular it identifies and analyses the obstacles of access to quality preschool education for Slovakian Romani children. It underlines the undeniable importance and long- term positive impact of quality early care and preschool education, especially for children who come from socially and economically disadvantaged environments. The low investment in ECEC places Slovakia far below...

The Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI)+ Croatia Report is intended to aid the authorities in ensuring the development of unhindered and equal access for Romani children to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. The purpose of the research is to tackle the difficult situation of Romani children and to support the commitment of Romani NGOs and governments in improving their situation and moreover to spread the importance of early years in children's lives as a key period for lifelong success....

The Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI) Serbia report concerns the situation of young Romani children and their families in the Republic of Serbia. Serbia has undertaken a process of social inclusion, which implies the development of policies, institutional frameworks and methodologies for enabling social inclusion as one of the essential requirements of the EU accession process. As a result of the democratic changes in Serbia the situation of Roma people has changed somewhat and early childhood services are receiving more attention....