Mihaela Zătreanu, an educator and advocate for Roma education, has over 15 years of experience. She pioneered Romania's first Romani language curriculum and authored textbooks for Roma children. As an educational inspector, she shaped policies to enhance Roma school participation. At the European level, she led efforts for equal rights and opportunities for Roma. Zătreanu also served as an educational expert for the Council of Europe, contributing to Roma children's education policy development. Additionally, she directed cultural programs promoting a positive image of Roma at the National Cultural Centre - Romano Kher.
Romani is one of the larger minority languages in the area represented by the Council of Europe and in the European Union countries. Romani is part of
the so-called Indic diaspora languages spoken by traveling communities of Indian origin outside of India. Romani and Romanes are the general names for the language of the Roma, Sinti, Kale and all other ethnic groups in Europe who speak or spoke an Indic/ Indo-Aryan language. There are upwards of 3.5 million speakers in Europe, and upwards of 500,000 in the rest of the world. The actual number may be much higher. The various dialects or varieties of Romani derive from a single ancestor idiom and the differences among them resembles to a considerable extent, the kind of differences found among dialects of major European languages such as Italian or German.
However, linguistic diversity does not represent an obstacle toward political unity. The Romani language is a powerful tool for unity, advocacy, empowerment, and cultural preservation within the Roma community, but also a key element for the educational inclusion of Roma children. Its recognition and promotion are integral to the political, social, and cultural advancement of the Roma people.
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20 мар 2024
