Hanover, 20 January 2026. On Tuesday, 20 January, the first session of the “SiRo 3.0 Round Table” took place at the New Town Hall in Hanover. The event was convened by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Lower Saxony Association of German Sinti e. V. and Roma Center e. V., who also organized and chaired the meeting.
More than 40 representatives from politics, academia, public administration, and civil society came together under the guiding theme “The Institution of School. Reducing Discrimination. Strengthening Potential.” The aim of the session was to engage in a constructive exchange and to develop perspectives for discrimination-sensitive and equal educational opportunities for children from Sinti and Roma communities.
The “SiRo 3.0 Round Table” was established in August 2025. It is a body unique within the Federal Republic of Germany, as it is the first initiative at the state level to be initiated and led by the communities themselves, engaging in an action-oriented dialogue on equal footing with politics, administration, academia, and civil society. The Round Table identifies structural needs for action and develops sustainable measures to reduce discrimination and promote the participation of Roma and Sinti in Lower Saxony. It also supports the implementation of these measures in practice and provides advisory guidance to leading institutions.
In his opening speech, the President of the Lower Saxony Association of German Sinti e.V., Mario Franz, emphasized that the convening of this body by the Ministry of Education represents an important signal. It demonstrates that the majority society is taking responsibility and is proactively working towards greater equality within the Lower Saxony school system.
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Deputy Mayor Thomas Herrmann and the Head of the Ministry Department responsible for cross-school-type matters, Silke Feser. Ms. Feser described equal opportunities within the education system as a matter close to her heart.
In four working groups, key thematic areas of the educational institution of schools were addressed. Discussions included, among other topics, the use of educational mentors from the communities, awareness-raising measures for school staff, teacher trainees, and educators, as well as the adaptation of core curricula. Each working group was led by experts and professionally supported by representatives of the Roma and Sinti communities. The results developed were subsequently presented in plenary and discussed collectively.
In addition, four experts from academia and education delivered keynote inputs. Topics included training opportunities for teachers on institutional anti-Gypsyism, the analysis of anti-racist teaching and learning materials, the current educational situation of the communities, as well as successful practical projects aimed at combating institutional discrimination in the education system.
At the conclusion of the session, the further goals and working methods of the “SiRo 3.0 Round Table” were presented. The body will meet quarterly in the future and can be convened by any member. Roma Center e. V. and the Lower Saxony Association of German Sinti e. V. thanked the participants for their committed cooperation and described the first session as a successful and constructive start, which is to be further deepened and consolidated in the coming months.
The SiRo 3.0 Round Table is a body jointly established by the Lower Saxony Association of German Sinti e. V. and Roma Center e. V. It brings together more than 80 institutions from across Lower Saxony.