Between ten and twelve thousand Roma live in Slovenia. In the 2002 census 3,246 persons identified themselves as Roma and 3,834 identified themselves as speakers of Romani. The different groups of Roma represented in the Romani–Plurilingual Policy Experimentation are Prekmurje (Prekmurje or Hungarian Roma in the north east of Slovenia), Dolenjska (Croatian Roma in the south east), Balkan or urban Roma, and some European Roma travellers.

Educational policy regarding Roma

In Slovenia the educational inclusion of Roma is regulated by the Resolution on the National Programme for Language Policy (2021–2025), the National Strategy for the Development of Reading Literacy (2019–2030), and the National Programme of Measures for Roma (2021–2030), which aims to increase the participation of Roma children in pre-school education programmes and to raise the percentage of Roma children with successful completion of basic education (at the age of 14/15). Roma assistants have been introduced in kindergartens and schools to help Roma children overcome linguistic and emotional barriers.

Participating schools

Frana Metelka Škocjan Basic School (http://www.frana-metelka-skocjan.si/)

Frana Metelka Basic School is in south-east Slovenia, in Škocjan, a town with a diverse population. The school has 23 classes, 392 pupils; 66 Roma pupils and 7 teachers are taking part in the RPPE. All Roma pupils are integrated in classes; some pre-school children attend the kindergarten in a multipurpose centre in the Roma community. In the past Frana Metelka Škocjan Basic School has participated in various projects designed to foster the educational inclusion of Roma children. Roma assistants and other local Roma persons help the school to communicate with parents and to support Roma children with their daily school work.

France Prešeren Črenšovci Basic School (http://www.osfpcrensovci.si/)

Črenšovci is in north-east Slovenia. France Prešeren Basic School has 13 classes, 205 pupils (27 of them Roma), 37 teachers and support staff, and 2 Roma employees. The associated kindergarten has 112 pupils (19 of them Roma), 17 teachers and support staff, and 2 Roma employees. Roma children enjoy presenting their language to their peers. The school organises workshops with teachers in school breaks and holidays. The Roma community has a representative on the municipal council of Črenšovci.

Janko Padežnik Basic School, Maribor (https://www.padeznik-mojasola.si/#)

The second-largest city of Slovenia, Maribor is situated in the north-east of the country. Janko Padežnik Basic School has served the local community for 145 years. It is multicultural, and pupils learn mutual tolerance and understanding at an early age; linguistic and cultural diversity is not an obstacle to school life but rather an advantage. Students experience multilingualism and multiculturalism on a daily basis, and this works against stereotypes and promotes acceptance of diversity.

Leskovec pri Krškem Basic School (http://www.os-leskovec.si/)

Krško is a small town (7,200 inhabitants) in the eastern part of Slovenia. Leskovec pri Krškem Basic School has 23 classes and 431 pupils (101 of them Roma). The associated bilingual kindergarten is located in the biggest Roma village, Kerinov grm, and has 16 children aged 2–5. Three Roma assistants are employed in the school and the kindergarten. The school participates in many national projects and works regularly with Roma and other parents to inform them about the importance and potential of plurilingualism.