Repository of DUTH

10 χρόνια μετά (Master thesis)

Τσίου, Νικολέτα/ Κοινωνική Εργασία στην Εκπαίδευση - Ένταξη Ετεροτήτων

This master’s dissertation titled “A primary assessment of a social work intervention to school inclusion…A decade later” involves the evaluation of the projects titled “Actions to support Muslim-minority pupils, with particular problems” and “Promoting the inclusion of Muslim Minority children in education”, which had been implemented in the period of 2005-2014. The projects were intended for the population of Musim pupils who lived in Roma settlements on the outskirts of the cities of Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupoli, as well as in towns and certain villages across Thrace. The aim of the survey was to give a platform to the project’s contributors, namely social workers and psychologists, and also to the participants in the programme, who at that time were pupils at the preschool, primary school (mainly) and secondary school level, so as to identify the effects their participation had on them and to highlight their experiences, as well as their views on this (the project’s strengths and weaknesses). A further aim was to present proposals on more effective interventions and social work programmes by listening to what participants had to say and also by following their proposals on additional or modified interventions. The study is based on qualitative research methodology and utiliζes semi-structured, in-depth interviews on the project’s professionals, and focus group interviews on participants (pupils) as methods for collecting and generating data. The sample consisted of two psychologists and six social workers, of which one was a trainee, as well as six young individuals who had taken part in the project as children / teenagers. The focus group was carried out in one of the settlements where the action had been implemented. The survey material was analysed by applying the thematic content analysis method. It was discovered that the project had a positive effect both on the personal and professional growth of participants in the survey involving professionals. The contributors admit that they gained experience and skills in implementing the theory in practice, and all this enhanced their willingness to expand their knowledge in the field of intercultural and school social work and psychology. The survey’s five participants (pupils at the time) continued their studies in the further levels of education, which proves that the programme achieved its basic goal, which was to develop incentives for school attendance. Special emphasis was placed on the significance of psychoeducational and psychosocial support groups in the promotion of the aforementioned goals, while it also seems that they serve as a powerful memory for the participants. The phrase spoken by participants after the completion of the programme: “It was like we were somewhat more knowledgeable”, confirms the programme’s contribution to strengthening the Greek language and general skills of the pupils so as to meet the demands of the group/class. However, both in the context of the focus group and in statements made by participants in the survey on professionals living in Thrace, it appears that children and young people from the focus group of the projects in question continue to face significant difficulties in expressing themselves in everyday communication settings. This fact raises concerns as to the extent to which this progress is real. Similarly, the proposals put forward by survey participants remain the same as the initial aims of the project, which – ten years later – have basically still not been met. The above indicates a significant shortcoming in the implementation and continuation of interventions on Greek language skills and regular attendance. However, the proposals developed by the project’s professionals are based on the principles and values of human rights and anti-oppressive practices and can contribute to the development of more effective social work programmes.