Traveller and Roma Education Strategy

The Department of Education is delighted to publish the new Traveller and Roma Education Strategy, developed in close collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, innovation and Science (DFHERIS). This comprehensive strategy covers the period to 2030 and sets out the Government’s strategic approach to Traveller and Roma Education, with the aim of enhance the educational experience and outcomes for Travellers and Roma across the whole education system.

The full strategy and the first of three two-year Plans for Implementation and Action can be found at the following links:

• The Department of Education is pleased to publish the following reports which helped to inform the development of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy. This included extensive consultation through a public online consultation and targeted consultations.

1. TRES Public Consultation Online Survey Report

2. A Report on Consultations with Children and Young People as part of the development of a Traveller and Roma Education Strategy

3. TRES Education System Consultation Report

The recommendations and findings outlined in these consultation reports have been considered in the development of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy and identifying actions for inclusion in the Plan for Implementation and Action 2024-2026. They will also inform the TRES’s future implementation plans in 2026 and 2028.

The importance of parental involvement and support emerged as one of the key themes from the public consultation. “Partnership” was therefore included as a strategic action in the Plan for action and implementation 2024-2026 in recognition of the importance of engagement with parents and guardians as well as with communities and organisations the development of Pillar 3

Feedback revealed that children and young people nominated by Traveller and Roma organisations preferred primary to post-primary school and some children and young people from these communities reported negative experiences in school. These views have been considered when developing the actions in the current plan by including a focus on Cineáltas:

Action Plan on Bullying, celebrating culture through creative youth programmes and providing wellbeing supports.

Improving the school experience for everyone was a common theme in the Education sector consultation and in general, as was improving access, attendance, participation and retention. Supporting children and young people at key transition points where there is a high risk of early school leaving is a key focus in the 2024-2026 Plan.

A key measure in the new Traveller and Roma Education Strategy is to incorporate Traveller culture and history through the curriculum to improve the sense of identity and belonging for young Travellers in the education system.

Another important support which will continue under the strategy is the TOBAR programme at Marino Institute of Education. It supports members of the Irish Traveller Community to become teachers by providing bespoke academic, personal and financial supports. To date, TOBAR has supported six members from the Traveller community in becoming primary school teachers and one as a post primary school teacher over the 2018 – 2023 period.

The department would like to highlight that the consultation reports represent the views, experiences and sentiments of the people that participated in these consultations.

Similarly, the wishes and desires expressed in the consultation report with children and young people may not be in the best interest of those children and young people but the report remains true to what was said.

The development of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy involved a number of phases of work, including:

• gathering research and evidence planning consultation, including how to ensure the meaningful participation of children and young people in developing the strategy
• holding consultations, through surveys, meetings and other means
• developing a statement of strategy, which will including a targeted implementation plan setting out the actions necessary to achieve the vision
• identifying measures and indicators of success including appropriate targets

To inform this strategy a wide-ranging consultation took place. Phase 1 of the consultation involved an online survey of interested members of the public; the views of Traveller and Roma students and parents and the wider Traveller and Roma communities were particularly welcomed. Phase 2 of the consultation involved targeted consultations with key stakeholders.

Phase 1. Online survey

This survey is now closed. Many thanks to the 424 participants for taking the time to share your views with us. We are delighted to have received responses from across the Traveller and Roma communities and from across the education system. We are delighted that a large number of respondents also indicated their willingness to be contacted for further consultation.

Phase 2. Targeted consultations

The Department of Education ran a series of targeted consultations in the development of TRES.

These aimed to find out the views of a range of stakeholders on ways to improve the educational experience and educational outcomes for Traveller and Roma children and young people.

The Department carried out the targeted consultations under three strands: the education system; Traveller and Roma families and communities; and Traveller and Roma children and young people.

You can view the presentations from our school communities consultation events held on the 11 December in the Laois Education Centre below:

• Traveller and Roma Education Strategy- Primary Schools Consultation
• Traveller and Roma Education Strategy-Post-Primary Schools Consultation

For any information on these consultation events or any upcoming consultation event, please contact TRES@education.gov.ie

The Programme for Government has a commitment to “Continue with, and expand, the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education and develop a National Traveller Education Strategy, including a plan to improve access to higher education for members of the Traveller Community.”

A National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) was published in 2017 a–whole–of–government inclusion strategy to improve the lives of Travellers and Roma in areas including health, housing, education and employment. The latest iteration, NTRIS II, was published in July 2024 and is available here .

It provides a framework to achieving equality of education outcomes, supporting an inclusive school community, and promoting a positive culture of respect and protection for the cultural identity of Travellers and Roma in education. The Traveller and Roma Education Strategy is a key action within NTRIS II.

Welcome to the TRES information series which has been designed to inform and engage Traveller and Roma children and young people, their families and communities in relation to education. This is also relevant to anyone working with Traveller and/or Roma in education. Over the course of this series, we will provide accessible information on key education matters, guidelines and policies that are relevant to Traveller and/or Roma education. The information series will be delivered through a variety of formats which will include videos, newsletters and tip sheets.

1. Traveller and Roma Education Strategy

This video has been created to inform people that a Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES) 2024-2030 was published in July 2024. The TRES was developed by the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DCEDIY) and in close collaboration with the Traveller and Roma organisations. The video outlines how the strategy was developed and the aims of the strategy in relation to improving the educational experiences and outcomes for Traveller and Roma children and young people across the whole education system.

2. Reduced School Days

The purpose of this video is to inform Traveller parents/guardians about Reduced School Days (RSD) in schools, what it is and in what situations it is advised. It also informs parents/guardians of their rights and the obligations on schools to follow guidelines where RSD is being used.

Evaluation of the STAR Pilot Project Report

The Department of Education has published an independent evaluation of the pilot project “Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR)”. The STAR project focused on improving school attendance, participation, and school completion among Traveller and Roma children and young people.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/8f93d-evaluation-of-the-star-pilot-project-report/

Cineáltas

Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in our schools.

For more information on this, please visit https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/52aaf-cinealtas-action-plan-on-bullying/.

The OECD Education for Inclusive Societies – Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland

The OECD review aims to provide insights and guidance for the Department of Education and other government departments and agencies to reduce barriers to education for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage

For more information on this, please visit https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60a94-oecd-review-of-resourcing-schools-to-address-educational-disadvantage-in-ireland-and-supporting-documents/.