The Roma Population in Portugal: A Changing Picture

Abstract

In this chapter the authors portray the situation of the Roma population in Portugal as a changing picture. They present a description of the social situation and living conditions of the Roma people of Portugal through the systematisation of the main results obtained from research conducted recently as part of the ‘Strategy for the integration of Roma communities 2013–2020’ and give a detailed analysis of the educational dimension in various levels of education, highlighting a public policy created in 2016, the Operational Program for the Promotion of Education. This programme, inspired by a civil society project and converted into a public policy due to its innovative character, supports Roma students in higher education and is funded by the Office of the High Commissioner for Migration. The authors describe the Roma Communities in Portugal with special regard to their social situation, their culture and language. Then the authors present an analysis about the educational attainment of the Roma in Portugal and the most important policies and support programmes for Roma education, which are considered as the key to the social integration of Roma communities. Finally, they describe some successful programmes: the OPRE, RESCUR and Dreams Teens Programs.

Citation

Calado, P., Moreira, L.J., Costa, S., Simões, C. and de Matos, M.G. (2019), "The Roma Population in Portugal: A Changing Picture", Óhidy, A. and Forray, K.R. (Ed.) Lifelong Learning and the Roma Minority in Western and Southern Europe, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 117-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83867-263-820191011