Por Redaccion 
The counselor for Educational Development and Vocational Training, María del Carmen Castillo, and the president of the Parliament of Andalusia, Jesús Aguirre, attended the presentation of the ‘No Return to School’ campaign by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, which addresses the educational situation of Romani students in Spain.
The event took place in the Alberto Jiménez-Becerril Room and was attended by members of parliament from various political groups, the Deputy Counselor for Educational Development and Vocational Training, Pablo Quesada Ruiz, the Secretary General for Vocational Training, Florentino Santos Porras, the Secretary General for Social Inclusion, Ana Vanessa García, the Director General for Participation and Educational Inclusion, Almudena García Rosado, and the Territorial Director of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Juan Reyes Campos.
Counselor María del Carmen Castillo emphasized that her department continues to work in collaboration with various associations to promote measures aimed at preventing absenteeism among Romani students and thus avoiding early school dropout. Therefore, the Ministry has implemented various actions aimed at integrating all Romani minors into the education system, promoting an intercultural education where Romani culture enriches all children in the classroom, rather than being a marginal factor.
Specifically, Castillo mentioned the ‘Promociona’ program which is carried out in collaboration with the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, with the ultimate goal of achieving academic success for Romani students, primarily through educational guidance. Thus, over 5,800 students have participated in this initiative, with 1,072 completing 4th grade of ESO, 89% obtaining the title of Compulsory Secondary Education and 94.33% continuing post-compulsory studies.
Furthermore, the counselor indicated that her department has other synergies of programs and actions contributing to the educational improvement of Romani students, such as the ‘PROA+ Transfórmate’ program in schools with the most vulnerable students, which proposes the implementation of ‘lever’ activities, including ‘An inclusive school for the successful pathways of Romani students’, an action that promotes teaching practices focused on enhancing the talent of Romani students, highlighting role models in the educational community.
On his part, the President of the Chamber began by thanking the Fundación Secretariado Gitano and «the cross-cutting work» carried out in the Andalusian government alongside «the different organizations and associations» to give the Romani people their rightful place, because «Andalusia is a land that does not understand its present and future without giving all the importance it deserves to its past. A past, a present, and a future in which the Romani people are always a symbol of the identity of our land.» «In the Parliament of Andalusia,» Jesús Aguirre continued, «you will always find allies in the members of parliament to reduce barriers. The Romani people have our commitment to promote policies that advocate for equal opportunities, employability, and to eradicate all prejudices and stereotypes.»
Aguirre pointed out that society in general «must become aware of the equality of all. And for this, it is important for parents, grandparents, to educate our children and grandchildren that we are all equal, whether we are Romani or not.»