Some 59% of Roma faced problems starting school education due to the lack of technical means for distance learning, according to the results of a study by the youth agency for advocacy of Roma culture ARKA.

According to the results of the study, which was presented on Tuesday at a press conference in the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, 47% of Roma families were forced to move due to the war, and most of them do not have proper access to public services, in particular, to education, which makes it difficult to adapt to new conditions.

"Education is one of the key integration and inclusion of Roma youth and Roma society in the processes that are taking place in our country. But the issue of education, or rather, the problems associated with it, are not always easily solved," said Volodymyr Yakovenko, executive director of the youth agency for advocacy of Roma culture ARKA, at a press conference hosted by the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to him, the study shows that education should be accessible and adaptive.

The study also notes that 59% of Roma faced problems accessing school education due to the lack of technical means for distance learning, and almost 90% of Roma children do not have the opportunity to fully study online.

In addition, the study showed that among Roma students and young people, 43% felt discrimination during their studies, including cases of bullying and unequal treatment.

"It is important that even if they want to continue their education, graduates often do not have the level of knowledge they received at school to successfully pass the External Independent Assessment/NMT," the study says.

There are also certain difficulties in understanding the admission procedure and submitting documents.

"Roma children and families strive to get an education, including higher education. To solve the issue of Roma getting an education, it is necessary to approach it comprehensively: solve economic problems and social and everyday problems," Yakovenko emphasized.