The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina No
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A Monthly Periodical of The Roma Inclusion Office The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina no. 22, November 2012. no. 22, November FIRST PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE ROMA LANGUAGE Interview: Zoran Mladenović Successful Roma: Stanko Petrović The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina 1 INTRODUCTION Dear readers, Happy anniversary of our monthly magazine! We The Founder and the Published of the Periodical: wish it to be more interesting, more read and purpose- The Roma Inclusion Office of the ful! Government of AP Vojvodina We would like to point out one exceptionally impor- tant fact about our monthly magazine: for several months The Editor: we have been the only magazine on the territory of the Duško Jovanović, dipl. ing. of agriculture entire Republic of Serbia which deals with the problems of Roma only – we inform our readers of the problems of The editor of theme of the number: Roma, their culture and history in Roma, Serbian and En- Duško Jovanović, dipl. ing. of agriculture glish and we are trying to show and prove that the Roma are as equally valuable as any other nation and thus dese- The Team: rve the same opportunity to be educated, employed and Dragana Rajić given health care. However… Snežana Dimić, dipl. pedagogist When we say – the only magazine… Zita Farkaš, pharmachologist We cannot say that we are proud of it… We have a great responsibility for being the only Correspondents: one. Our greatest wish is to help individuals, organiza- Roma Coordinators of APV tions and institutions to solve certain Roma issues in their prof. dr Vladimir Gecelovsky environment, according to the model we offer them, but Ivana Koprivica, dipl. psychologist also we wish to contribute to the elimination of preju- dices which non-Roma have against Roma population. Translation in Roma language: We wish to motivate Roma, with the positive example Igor Dimić, preschool teacher of their countrymen, to try hard, make progress and start thinking – If he/she can do it, so can I. Translation in English language: The criticisms we received so far have been only oral Mirjana Serdar, BA in English Philology and mainly positive. We want to believe that that was not done only out of politeness. We believe that in the last year, in the period of our Technical Preparation and Printing: existence, we got to know each other and that we can MAXIMA GRAF, Petrovaradin already ask each other everything. Also, we are ready to [email protected] hear you, the reason of our existence, and to adjust to www.maximagraf.rs your taste and to consider your opinion. We wish to communicate with you, which is why Circulation: we are introducing an innovation: all your comments for 1000 our monthly magazine, positive and negative criticism, recommendations related to the topics you would (not) Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, like to see in our and your magazine, all of which you can 21000 Novi Sad send on our e-mail address: redakcija.sugestije@gmail. com and contribute to the quality of our magazine “De- cade of Roma in AP Vojvodina”. We want to hear your opinion and to justify your trust... The Team 2 The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina This month’s topic: First pre-school teacher in the Roma language STRAIGHT “A” Merima Nika belongs to the first generation of students who studied to be specialized pre-school teachers in the Roma language at the Pre-school Teacher Training College “Mihailo Palov” in Vrsac. Today she is the first graduate student majoring in this subject. Merima defended her the- sis “Planning, Observing and Evaluating Beginner’s Ma- thematics Education” in the ceremonial hall of this school on 5th November. Commis- sion consisting of members Dr. Aleksandra Stojanovic, Dr. Tanja Nedimovic and Professor Predrag Prtljaga gave this the- sis the highest mark. Photo: M. Karadžić Her defense consisted of three parts. In the first part Me- At the beginning of thesis defense rima presented the basis of her her face, which proved that that “This day is a historical thesis and in the second part the November day was still special. day, not only for the Roma commission members asked “We treat our students equ- community, but also for the so- questions. After that, the com- ally. We look forward to every ciety we live in. This study pro- mission left the room in order graduate student and it is our gram is something which has to assess Merima’s thesis. pleasure to reach that goal to- clearly shown Serbia’s and Pro- An excellent combination of gether with them. Today I have vince’s interest in the nurture of theory and practice to admit that I am happier more the identity of Roma national than usually because this is the community. Thus, this event is Merima’s mentor, Dr. Alek- student who was completely remarkably important not only sandar Stojanovic, said that he committed to her faculty obli- for the Roma community, but was satisfied with their coope- gations. Besides, she partici- also for this city, province and ration. pated in student parliament, as country. Besides Merima, the “Merima had showed in- well as various extracurricular teaching staff of this school also terest in this topic even during activities. That is why I am takes credit for today’s success. her studies. She approached happy today, because I saw that What I always insisted on from this task as any other - serio- all her efforts and potentials she the very beginning is making usly and responsibly. She used showed are now rewarded with no difference between students relevant references and connec- success.” of Roma nationality and stu- ted the theoretical part with her dents of non-Roma nationality. practical research in an outstan- Historical event We see that today, because the ding way.” Dusko Jovanovic, director commission listened to this de- A span more of happiness of the Roma Inclusion Office fense without any prejudice. It of AP Vojvodina which was an was my pleasure to attend this Dr. Grozdanka Gojkov, initiator of the opening of this defense.” director of this school, also at- study program together with tended the defense. She was the the Government of AP Vojvodi- first to congratulate Merima. na, said that 5th November be- Dragana Dimitrov Even though she said that all came part of the history thanks students are equal in this scho- to Merima’s thesis defense. ol, she could not take smile off The Roma Decade in AP Vojvodina 3 This month’s topic: First pre-school teacher in the Roma language Interview with Merima Nika DIPLOMA IN HER HANDS, SMILE ON HER FACE I admit that I was nervous before defending my thesis. However, when I started presenting it, my nervo- usness slowly disappeared. I am happy that everything went well, because I worked really hard for it. My diploma is a reward for my people, my parents and everyone who encouraged me. Diploma in my hands and a smile on my face lead to a good sequel to this story.” This was the answer of Merima Nika when we congratulated her on her success. Moreover, she shared with us her impressions about her education at the College and her plans for the future. She also gave her opinion about the significance of her study program and her attitude about Roma tradition, as well as her message for Roma students. continue my education; I am not going to stop here. I am planning to enroll on specialized studies in my school, but also to conti- nue my education at the Teacher Training Faculty in Belgrade. Employment is the most important for me, and then all those other things I mentioned. I never lacked persistence, which Photo: M. Karadžić is one of the main factors of suc- Awaiting commission results cess. *Thanks to your success, -‘Satisfied’ does not give it *You are the first graduated you have become one of the le- justice. I would recommend this pre-school teacher in the Roma aders of education of Roma in faculty to every future student, language. How important is it our country. Who else is “guil- because it offers much more that members of Roma popula- ty” of your success? than you expect. Professors tion will have the opportunity -I think that the biggest cre- were very considerate and stu- to have in their pre-school edu- dit for my success and my cho- dent-friendly. Thus, they sup- cation someone with whom they ice goes to my parents. They port the students, which further will be able to communicate in have invested so much strength, motivates and encourages them. their mother tongue? persistence and effort to empha- University students are not just -That is very important, not size the importance of education a name and a number, but per- just for children, but also for pa- to my sister and me. I am glad sons and that’s what made me rents who will finally have so- that they succeeded in that. happy during my studies. meone to talk to when they need Besides them, there was the help. We will be there to help Roma Inclusion Office which *What are your further them as much as we can, and if supported every move I made plans? we cannot solve something, we and which takes the biggest cre- -My first plan is to find a will direct them to person who dit for my choice of this school. job, of course, in my profession, can. Thus, the relation between Thanks to the scholarship pro- in a certain pre-school institu- Roma and institutions, which is vided by the Office, my parents tion.