Razvoj kulturnega kapitala romskih učencev

We applied for the project because of the need to reduce inequalities in the educational achievements of Roma and majority pupils. The organizations involved in the project often come into contact with members of the Roma community in the course of their work. The gaps in cultural capital and reading literacy between Roma and majority pupils are already very pronounced when they enter school and widen during their schooling. The project is based on the recognition that the cultural capital and basic literacy levels acquired are not only the result of the school system but are shaped in the family environment, and that due to the specific way of life in the Roma community, children do not develop the cultural capital of a legitimate culture, which is reflected in their performance. In order for Roma children to make up for this shortfall, cultural capital needs to be systematically developed. One of the ways in which the partners have seen how to successfully address this challenge is through activities to develop reading literacy among Roma pupils, thereby reducing the differences in the level of cultural capital between pupils. To address the needs of Roma pupils, the project has developed a curriculum and didactic materials.

The project aimed to develop the reading literacy of Roma pupils by creating innovative additional content that will help teachers raise the level of cultural capital and reading literacy of Roma children in order to make up for the deficit with which these pupils enter the education system. This will have long-term positive effects on their academic performance and other areas of their lives. By developing a curriculum and didactic materials based on a preliminary analysis of the situation, we wanted to offer additional support to teachers and pedagogical staff in their work with Roma pupils. At the same time, the project also aimed to increase the participation of Roma pupils in school and extracurricular activities. Objectives we set ourselves in the project application were: -to compensate for the lack of cultural capital of Roma pupils, -develop reading literacy among Roma pupils, -to strengthen the role of teachers in raising the level of cultural capital of Roma pupils, -strengthen teachers' activities to enhance the raising of cultural capital in Roma pupils, reduce the disparities in literacy and cultural capital between Roma and majority pupils, -develop innovative approaches and tools for working with Roma pupils.

The following activities were carried out under the KULko project: 1. Using the method of semi-structured teacher interviews, we analyzed the current level of cultural capital of Roma pupils in the partner primary schools and compiled the results into a report.In addition, we interviewed teachers from the partner primary schools or kindergarten units who have direct insight into the development of Roma children in the pre-school period, when the basic elements of cultural capital and reading literacy are formed in the process of primary socialization. Based on the results of the first activity, a common curriculum for raising the level of cultural capital of legitimate Roma culture was developed, covering the areas that proved to be the most pressing. 3. We have prepared a variety of didactic materials that follow the curriculum and serve the needs of the implementation of the activities to raise the level of basic cultural capital and reading literacy according to the curriculum. 4. We piloted the curriculum activities in partner primary schools and involved Roma pupils in the preparation of the school newsletter.

The concrete products and other outputs of the KULko project are: - A research report on the analysis of the current level of cultural capital and the level of reading literacy of Roma pupils (20 classroom teachers and educators involved). - A common plan to raise the level of basic cultural capital of Roma pupils. - A collection of didactic materials for the implementation of activities aimed at raising the level of basic cultural capital and reading literacy of Roma pupils on the basis of the curriculum developed - Pilot implementation of the curriculum activities in Croatia (21 Roma and 9 non-Roma children*). - Pilot curriculum activities in Slovenia (10 Roma and 10 non-Roma children) - Publication of a school newsletter for Roma pupils in a Slovenian partner primary school. publication of a school newsletter for Roma pupils in a Croatian partner primary school. - The research report, the curriculum, and the collection of didactic materials are available in three languages: the national languages of the partner countries (Slovenian and Croatian) and English. * Non-Roma children were included in the activities alongside Roma children with the aim of cooperative learning, which increases motivation and interaction.