The project aimed to support teachers, mediators, and experts working with Roma children and young people by upgrading their skills in intercultural training and pedagogical techniques. They were given valuable tools to work with marginalized groups in segregated and non-segregated environments, by helping trainees understand the materials, interact correctly and effectively, and contribute to reducing early school dropouts. We know that education systems vary from country to country, as does the education of Roma children. In the 21st century, a person, who may or may not be a teacher, needs to possess multiple skills and competencies, such as basic skills, digital competencies, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and various transversal competencies, to have more opportunities to succeed and prosper. To meet this challenge, we proposed inclusive practices in education that can be adapted to education systems in Europe and beyond.
The PAL LAB project set out to develop a future-oriented model to enable the formal and informal school process to provide teachers and practitioners with the forecasting, imagination, and action skills needed to improve poor learning outcomes in basic education, basic skills, and reduce early school leaving of Roma children at national, regional and local levels in Europe. We are convinced that the high early school leaving rates and poor learning outcomes of Roma children, but also other segregated groups, are symptoms of the inability of traditional teaching methodologies to adapt to new realities. The project was created because we identified a need to support the upskilling of teachers and Roma children during their social and individual integration. The stigma of social exclusion combined with the penalization of poorer school performance make it difficult for them to be fully involved in the school process and they need support from professionals. Nearly all partners have been working on projects to support training and curriculum development, but the project ideas came through the work and initiative of the PAL Network.