WYG International implemented the institutional building component of a complex programme to support the implementation of the MER strategy to improve access to education for disadvantaged groups and to promote inclusive education for all. The programme particularly focused on Roma and students with special educational needs, in order to combat social exclusion and marginalisation and to promote human rights and equal opportunities.

The following activities were undertaken under the programme:

• Support to the school inspectorates in elaborating and implementing county strategies for the improvement of access to education for the disadvantaged communities, with a special focus on Roma, and for inclusion in mainstream education of children with special education needs;
• Elaboration, delivery and monitoring of the training programmes for school inspectors (pre‑primary, primary, special education, Roma inspectors), school principals, teacher trainers, teachers from pilot schools, members of the Roma communities to become primary school teachers or school mediators;
• Support to the development of curriculum and educational materials;
• Support to community participation in education;
• Identification of all cases of segregation in education in the pilot counties through close collaboration with school inspectorates, NGOs and other relevant actors and support local actors in the identification and implementation of effective measures for desegregation;
• Support in the creation of a framework in order to sustain the children with special needs integration in/with mainstream schools.

Thanks to these  activities, the conditions for pre-school education of disadvantaged groups were  improved, rates of  dropout decreased, the school success rates of children from disadvantaged groups increased and there was an increase in enrolment onto second chance programmes at the primary and lower secondary level for students who had abandoned compulsory education.