Category Archives: Romania

Roma, School, and Romania

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Roma, School, and Romania

In Cluj County, there are 2,633 Roma students enrolled in schools, making up about 4.55% of the total student population, but only 159 have progressed to high school (9th grade). The distribution of Roma students shows 1,148 in primary education, 1,002 in secondary education, and 297 in early childhood education, with a noted increase in preschool groups.

Six classes teaching in Romani and four preschool groups operate in Cluj, with specific schools mentioned that cater to Roma students. That is probably one of the reason for the poor scores …

Written recommendations confirming Roma ethnicity for 8th-grade students applying for high school in 2027 must be issued and submitted by March 31, 2027, as per the Bucharest School Inspectorate’s guidelines. Recommendations can be issued online and must be submitted to the school by the legal representative of the student, with late submissions not being considered.

A series of deadlines and procedures are outlined for the admission process, including training sessions for teachers and information meetings for parents and students regarding special places for Roma candidates.

So, one has to prove on is Rom????

Congress

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Congress

The Union of Roma Party (P.U.R.) is holding its first congress on October 23, 2026, to elect its leadership and represent the interests of Romanian citizens of Roma ethnicity.

P.U.R. was established in June 2025 and aims to ensure that Roma citizens are represented by Roma themselves in political matters, rather than being subjects of public policies designed without their input.

The party operates within the constitutional framework of Romania and the values of the European Union, advocating for equal opportunities in education, employment, and health for the Roma community.

Poetry Book

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Poetry Book

Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă’s trilingual poetry collection, published in 2026, explores themes of time, nature, and human existence, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life and death.

The book, translated into German by Beatrice Ungar, was presented at a festive event in Hermannstadt, highlighting its significance in contemporary Romanian poetry.

Cioabă’s work reflects her Roma heritage and personal experiences, inviting readers to engage with universal themes of memory, loss, and hope.

Demolition

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Demolition

Several families living in makeshift homes in Colonia de sub Deal, Florești, Romania, were left homeless due to demolitions initiated by the local government, which claims to enforce court rulings against illegal constructions.

Activists argue that the affected families were not provided with alternative housing solutions and call for social measures to support them, referencing the need for compliance with legislation regarding informal settlements.

The local administration has announced plans to acquire around 350 homes for vulnerable families over the next decade, aiming for integration into existing communities rather than creating segregated areas.

Romania: Attack

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Romania: Attack

A stabbing incident occurred at Școala Gimnazială Nr. 6 in Bistrița, Romania, where a student targeted a Roma classmate, leading to injuries of a teacher and another student.

The attacker, a seventh-grade student who recently returned from Spain, allegedly sought out a specific student of Roma ethnicity, raising suspicions of a racially motivated attack. He apparently planned the action for 8 months, discussing it on TikTok.

The school lacked strict access control despite having surveillance cameras, prompting authorities to consider implementing stricter security measures following the incident.

„țigan”

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„țigan”

An article on the word „țigan” [“Gypsy”], its origins stemming from the Athingani, a heretical Manicheism sect and on why it is pejorative and should be supplanted by the word Rom.

Brawl in Timisoara

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Brawl in Timisoara

A conflict involving several Roma men occurred in Timișoara, leading to police intervention after a neighbor called emergency services. Four men aged between 18 and 56 were fined a total of 8,000 lei for their involvement in the disturbance, which included public disorder and insults.

Authorities emphasized the importance of social coexistence and peaceful conflict resolution for public safety.

Outing Oneself

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Outing Oneself

Mihai Neacșu, director of the National Center for Roma Culture, highlighted that only one-third of Roma in Romania openly identify with their ethnicity due to stigma and fear.

He emphasized the importance of promoting historical truth about the Holocaust and shared historical documents showing Roma soldiers pleading for their families not to be deported during the war.

Neacșu recounted a poignant story of a Roma man who wished to be buried standing, symbolizing the struggle for dignity and identity among the Roma community in Romania.

Romania – Conference

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Romania – Conference

The National Agency for Roma, in partnership with the National Center for Roma Culture “Romano Kher”, organized a series of conferences in Dolj County focused on the historical slavery of Roma and the need for reconciliation through recognition and reparative policies.

The event lasted three days and aimed to shed light on this aspect of history.

Additionally, there will be a discussion about the life and work of Lucian Raicu, a Romanian critic and writer of Jewish descent, in the segment “A book…a minority.”

Roma Students and Police …

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Roma Students and Police …

In the Maramureș County for the 2026-2027 school year, there are 3,872 Roma students enrolled, including 306 high school students.

During the computer allocation process on July 16, 40 candidates were assigned to places specifically allocated for Roma students, with four coming from other counties.

The local prefecture is actively disseminating information about admission opportunities to Roma communities, with online registration open until October 4, 2026.

Cristina Moldovan, a representative of the Maramureș County Prefecture, also presented information provided by the Maramureș County Police Inspectorate regarding the allocation of places for Roma candidates in the admission competitions for two educational institutions.

Education in Romania

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Education in Romania

A meeting on September 28 focused on improving access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities for Roma communities in Maramureș, Romania.

Key issues discussed included reserved spots for Roma candidates in police schools and the enrollment of Roma students in local schools, with 3,872 Roma students registered in the 2026-2027 school year.

Access to healthcare was also addressed, revealing that 125 Roma individuals in Baia Mare are not registered with a family doctor, prompting plans for further collaboration to enhance their access to medical services.

Really?

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Really?

According to the article, the Romanian government is offering €50,000 in non-repayable funding to young Roma individuals (ages 18-30) to start businesses, as part of the Start-Up Nation program, amidst a record number of business closures in the country.

Eligibility criteria for the funding rely on self-declaration of Roma ethnicity, raising concerns about potential misuse and the impact on actual Roma individuals seeking support.

The program aims to reduce poverty among the Roma community but may inadvertently inflate the number of declared Roma, affecting future government programs and representation.

Well, the current official number of Roma is really low and far from reality …

Roma Politics

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Roma Politics

An important meeting for the Romani Party of Vrancea, Romania,  took place, focusing on the party’s reorganization following a scandal involving former leader Toader Constantin, accused of rape.

Deputy Nicolae Păun emphasized the need for preparation for the 2028 elections, urging the identification of capable candidates from the Romani community.

The meeting concluded with discussions on political strategy, community involvement, and the need for basic services for Romani families in Vrancea and Buzău.

Housing Discrimination?

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Housing Discrimination?

A young Romni, B.R., raised in child protection, has written an open letter to the mayor of Cluj, Emil Boc, questioning why she and others like her do not receive social housing despite being educated and employed.

B.R. shares her experiences of discrimination and emphasizes that not all Roma should be judged based on the actions of a few, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of her community.

She highlights the need for social housing criteria to be reconsidered, suggesting that those who work and contribute to society should be prioritized over those who perpetuate negative stereotypes.

Cultural Centre

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Cultural Centre

A new cultural center dedicated to Romani culture, language, and traditions was inaugurated in Belgrade, Serbia, attended by Dorin Cioabă, president of one of the current three International Romani Union.

The Romani Cultural Center aims to serve as a meeting point for the community, promoting education, dialogue, and the preservation of Romani identity.

Cioabă emphasized the importance of collaboration among Romani organizations, public institutions, and civil society to maintain Romani culture and traditions.

Cluj and Roma

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Cluj and Roma

Local NGOs in Cluj, particularly TAC.social, criticize a protest against the relocation of Roma families from Pata Rât, emphasizing the need for discussions based on the realities of the community.

The protest, organized by the Identitarian Community Association of Romania, attracted only about 12 participants and was marked by inflammatory rhetoric against the Roma community.

TAC.social calls for greater awareness and understanding of the living conditions in Pata Rât, inviting people to engage directly with the community rather than relying on prejudiced narratives.

Cluj and Roma

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Cluj and Roma

Local councilor Dragoș Roșianu criticized fellow councilor Daniel Meze for generalizing about relocated Roma families after a fire incident, urging him to verify facts directly with affected families.

The fire, which affected 16 apartments, was attributed to an electrical issue, not the ethnicity of the residents, highlighting the need for responsible administration and fact-based discussions.

Roșianu emphasized the importance of integration and support for Roma families, rejecting stigmatization and calling for constructive dialogue to address any issues within the community.

Arranged Marriages

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Arranged Marriages

Dorin Cioabă, a representative of the Roma community, expressed outrage over a new Romanian law that could imprison parents who arrange marriages for minors.

He argues that the law fails to distinguish between forced marriages and consensual relationships among adolescents, which could lead to unnecessary legal consequences.

The law, recently passed by the Romanian Parliament, imposes prison sentences of 2 to 7 years for forced marriages involving minors under 16, aiming to protect young individuals from coercion.

Flop

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Flop

A protest in Cluj-Napoca against the relocation of families from the Pata Rât landfill attracted fewer than 20 participants, mostly young people under 35, and was organized by a group known for anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion actions.

Protesters expressed hateful sentiments towards the Roma community and criticized local authorities, claiming that the relocation project unfairly benefits homeless individuals at the expense of hardworking citizens.

The local government clarified that only 50 apartments were purchased for relocation, funded primarily by external grants, and that the project aims to gradually relocate families from Pata Rât by 2030.

Blacksmith

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Blacksmith

La Bârca is home to a vibrant Roma community, with nea Ilie, a blacksmith, being a prominent figure.

Nea Ilie is recognized as the best blacksmith in Oltenia.

The story of the blacksmith from Bârca will be featured on TVR Craiova.

https://youtu.be/yg16-xRlFAA

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