ROMA EDUCATION FUND Roma Early Childhood Inclusion+ Republic of Bulgaria Report Roma Early Childhood Inclusion+ Special Report on Roma Inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care Republic of Bulgaria September 2020 AUTHORS Consultants Gancho Iliev Deyan Kolev Lyuboslava Peneva Milena Ilieva Teodora Krumova Project research team Alexey Pamporov George Angelov Dimitar Dimitrov Dragomira Belcheva Ilko Jordanov Petya Brainova Ralitsa Dimitrova National and international editorial team Anita Jones Boyan Zahariev Jana Huttová Arthur Ivatts This RECI+ Report was prepared by Open Society Institute–Sofia Foundation. The presentation of material and country designations employed throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Sponsoring Agencies concerning the legal status or delimitation of frontiers or boundaries of any country, territory, city, or area. The opinion expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies. ISBN 978-954-2933-62-5 (paper) ISBN 978-954-2933-63-2 (pdf) For further information, please contact: Almaz Ismayilova I Open Society Foundations Early Childhood Program I [email protected] Marko Pecak I Roma education Fund I [email protected] Vera Rangelova I UNICEF I [email protected] © UNICEF photos l SWZ/2011 l John McConnico Design and layout l Judit Kovács l Createch Ltd. Printed in the Republic of Bulgaria l 2020 Contents The Sponsoring Agencies ...................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................6 A Note on Terminology ........................................................................................................................6 Glossary ..............................................................................................................................................7 List of Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................................8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................9 Contextual Introduction .......................................................................................................................9 Main Findings of the RECI+ Research ..............................................................................................10 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................16 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................23 What is RECI+?.................................................................................................................................23 The Importance of Early Childhood and Nurturing Care – Regional and European ECD Perspective .. 26 The Importance of Early Childhood and Nurturing Care – Bulgarian ECD Perspective .....................28 Research Methodology .....................................................................................................................30 Structure of the Report .....................................................................................................................32 CHAPTER 1. The Context and Situation of Roma Communities in Bulgaria .....................................33 Demographic Data on Roma .............................................................................................................33 The Cultural Richness of the Roma in Bulgaria .................................................................................37 The Economic and Labor Market Situation .......................................................................................40 Poverty and Social Exclusion .............................................................................................................41 The Housing Situation .......................................................................................................................43 Indicators of Health and Wellbeing ...................................................................................................46 The Educational Context ...................................................................................................................47 Anti-Discrimination Rights.................................................................................................................51 Attitudes Towards Roma ...................................................................................................................52 Roma Integration Policies and Measures ..........................................................................................53 Civic Engagement .............................................................................................................................54 CHAPTER 2. Health and Social Services ...........................................................................................57 Bulgaria’s Health Services System ...................................................................................................57 Bulgaria’s Social Services System ....................................................................................................70 roma early childhood inclusion+ – republic of bulgaria report CHAPTER 3. Early Childhood Education and Care ............................................................................81 ECEC in the Bulgarian Context .........................................................................................................81 CHAPTER 4. Provision, Policy, and Practice Challenges to Be Addressed ......................................103 Gaps between National and Local Policy Responses and Related Implementation .......................103 Unequal Access to ECEC, Health Care, and Social Care ................................................................107 Insufficient Service Availability for Roma Families with Young Children .......................................... 111 Insufficient Quality of ECEC, Health, and Social Services Hinders the Inclusion of Disadvantaged Groups, Particularly Roma ..................................................................................114 Need for the Active Participation and Involvement of Families and the Broader Community in Children’s Early Development .................................................................................. 117 Gender Inequality and Gender Gaps Insufficiently Addressed by Policies ......................................119 CHAPTER 5. Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................121 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................121 Recommendations ..........................................................................................................................122 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................................129 APPENDIX 1. RECI+ Bulgaria Methodology ....................................................................................137 APPENDIX 2. Selection Grid of the Six RECI+ Study Locations .....................................................143 4 roma early childhood inclusion+ – republic of bulgaria report The Sponsoring Agencies The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that safeguard fundamental rights and assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems. On a local level, Open Society implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. Open Society has considerable experience working in partnership with and strengthening Roma civil society organizations, but also in collecting and analyzing data and evaluating projects and programs. The Open Society Early Childhood Program promotes the healthy development and wellbeing of young children through initiatives that emphasize parent and community engagement, professional development, and government accountability. Open Society is guided by a rights-based approach and social justice framework, with emphasis on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities, including minorities, migrants/refugees, children living in poverty, and children with developmental delays, malnutrition, and disabilities. Program initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia focus on addressing the situation of Roma children, children with disabilities, and children who have hindered access to services. Open Society continues to support and collaborate with the national and regional early childhood practitioners and non-governmental organizations established through its flagship Step by Step program, including the International Step by Step Association and, since 2012, the Romani Early Years Network. Roma Education Fund (REF) is an international non-governmental organization that was established in 2005 in