On the 15th June, over 30 experts from state institutions, the educational system and the non-governmental sector discussed the possible ways through which the prevention of hate speech, discrimination and radicalization of young people could begin as early as in primary school.
At the roundtable, Dr. Luiza Shahbazyan from ARC Fund introduced a year’s worth of work of a team, formed by primary school teachers, counselling experts and psychologists, who developed a special methodology for children in primary school. What is new about this methodology is that it does not require additional classes from the school program, which is already busy enough. A group of volunteer teachers chose 10 themes which can be presented during different regular classes. All of the lesson plans are to be presented in an interactive way, which connect the plan with examples and activities, which develop the tolerance and acceptance of the differences between pupils. As homework, the pupils will have to work together with a parent to come up with an idea for an outdoor activity in which the other children, parents and their teachers will participate too.
The 10 lesson plans will be issued in a special teacher´s guidebook and will allow every primary school teacher to apply them in their classes, without breaking up the rhythm of the compulsory educational plan.
At the roundtable, the executive officer of the National network for children Mr. Georgi Bogdanov introduced his own research method for hate speech and discrimination on Facebook, and Marieta Radulova from Association Parents presented similar methodology for working with kids in primary school, which are regularly applied by her Association.
Also, Genadii Matveev, counselling expert and one of the methodologists of the project “Children, parents and teachers against hate speech and discrimination”, co-financed by EEA Grants and the Support Programme for NGOs in Bulgaria, introduced some cases from his working experience. He not only confirmed the possibility, but also the efficiency of doing prevention work with primary school pupils.
The secretary of the Central Juvenile Delinquency Combatting Commission Konstantin Tomanov introduced a research on the radicalization of young people and the kinds of extremist and radical groups that exist in Bulgaria. He emphasized the especially problematic rebirth of neo-Nazism.
Many experts participated in the discussion, representing the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Education, the State Agency for Child Protection, the Agency for Social Assistance, the parliamentary Children, Youths and Sports Committee and other non-governmental organizations.
