Investing in the education of Roma and Egyptians is not an investment in just one community, but rather an investment in the future of all of Montenegro, announced the non-governmental organization "Association for the Support of Roma and Egyptians".
They said that this NGO particularly recognizes the engagement of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the relevant Minister, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, in improving the position of children and youth from the Roma and Egyptian communities, emphasizing that the willingness of institutions to cooperate and dialogue is of particular importance.
"Montenegro is a society of diverse cultures, languages, identities and traditions. In such a society, the education system has a special responsibility - to provide every child, regardless of their national or ethnic affiliation, with equal opportunities for education, development and the realization of their own potential. As a non-governmental organization that has been working with the Roma and Egyptian communities for years, we consider it important to present to the public the positive developments that have been achieved in the field of educational and social inclusion, as well as the importance of institutional support and partnership in this process. We particularly recognize the engagement of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and Minister Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović in improving the position of children and youth from the Roma and Egyptian communities. This process cannot be the result of the work of one institution or one individual. It requires cooperation between state institutions, local governments, schools, civil society organizations, international partners, parents and the community itself. That is why the readiness of institutions for cooperation and dialogue is of particular importance," the statement reads.
They recall that in 2024, at a seminar dedicated to the inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in the context of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, Minister Jakšić Stojanović spoke about the importance of equal opportunities, solidarity and mutual respect, particularly emphasizing education as one of the key instruments for overcoming prejudice and discrimination. The seminar brought together representatives of institutions, the European Union, the European Commission, the Roma community and the non-governmental sector.
It is important, they point out in the statement, that such messages do not remain just at the level of public addresses:
"In the previous period, a number of concrete measures to support children from the RE population have been implemented, including free attendance at preschool institutions, free transportation for students, scholarships for high school students and university students, as well as other activities aimed at increasing the coverage of children with education. For families facing economic and social difficulties, such measures have direct significance. Free attendance at kindergarten facilitates the inclusion of children in early development and education. Provided transportation enables students to attend school regularly. Scholarships can be an important support for young people to continue secondary or higher education. These are concrete forms of support that can be seen in the everyday life of families."
They consider openness to dialogue with representatives of the Roma community to be particularly important.
"At the fourth session of the Roma Parliament, held in April 2026, representatives of the Ministry of Education, including Minister Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović, spoke with representatives of the Roma community about issues related to education and the position of Roma. For organizations working with the Roma community, such direct dialogue has a special value. The Roma community should not only be the subject of strategies, programs and projects. Its representatives should be partners with institutions, to point out problems, propose solutions and participate in creating policies that directly affect their lives. This is precisely why we believe that partnership between institutions and civil society organizations is one of the important prerequisites for successful inclusion," the NGO added.
They also note that the educational inclusion of Roma and Egyptians is an important part of European human rights, equality and social inclusion policies.
"It is particularly significant that Montenegro received the first European Commission award in 2025 for outstanding achievements in promoting Roma inclusion in education. This recognition is an important indicator that certain activities of Montenegrin institutions in the field of educational inclusion have been recognized at the European level. At the same time, the European Commission, in its latest full Report on Montenegro, indicates that Roma and Egyptians continue to face discrimination and marginalization, but also notes activities aimed at their greater inclusion in the education system. These two facts should be viewed together. Problems still exist and institutions should be required to work even harder. But at the same time, it is important to recognize concrete results and positive developments," they said in a statement.
They say that for the Roma and Egyptian communities, education is not only a basic right, but also one of the most important paths to long-term social inclusion.
"That is why we consider investing in early childhood development, increasing the coverage of preschool education, supporting pupils and students, reducing financial barriers to education and creating conditions for children to remain in the education system to be particularly important. Our organization, in its work with families, sees how important these measures are. Every child who is given the opportunity to attend kindergarten, every student who can attend school regularly, every high school student or college student who receives support to continue their education - represents a step towards greater equality. That is precisely why we believe that the success of education policy must be measured by the concrete opportunities that children receive."
They also said that they do not consider the work to be finished:
"The Roma and Egyptian community continues to face poverty, discrimination and other social challenges. Therefore, all institutions must continue to improve existing policies and seek new solutions. But we also believe that it is important to recognize when positive progress is being made. In this sense, the engagement of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and Minister Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović in the field of educational inclusion of Roma and Egyptians deserves to be presented to the public through concrete measures, partnerships and results."
Inclusion, as they said, is not measured by words alone.
"It is measured by whether children have access to education, whether they can attend school regularly, whether they have support to continue their education and whether their families have equal opportunities. Montenegro is a society of diversity and the education system should be a place where these differences are respected and where every child gets a chance to develop their potential. For Roma and Egyptian children, this means that they must have an equal opportunity to be part of the education system and the society in which they live. Investing in the education of Roma and Egyptians is not an investment in just one community. It is an investment in the future of the whole of Montenegro," said the NGO "Association for the Support of Roma and Egyptians".
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