Cartagena has been chosen by CHANIPEN: Research, Memory and Justice to run the pilot of Romanipen Escolar: a Romani agenda to transform the school, an initiative that brings the history, culture, language and contributions of the Roma people into everyday learning in primary education. Its first rollout takes place during the 2026–2027 school year at CEIP Asdrúbal in Lo Campano, from years 1 to 6 of primary school, in collaboration with Cartagena City Council’s Equality Service.

The project, led by this nationwide association based in Cartagena, combines a school agenda, a teaching guide and audiovisual resources. It aims to give the school community tools to know the Roma people in their diversity, recognise their contributions and prevent prejudice and anti-Roma racism. It is addressed to all pupils and, at the same time, seeks to ensure that Romani children find role models from their own history and culture at school.

The agenda lays out a forty-two-week journey that brings together biographies of Romani figures, vocabulary, commemorative dates and historical and cultural content through the “Did you know…?” section. Learning the Romani language, with particular attention to Caló as the variety tied to the Spanish Roma people, holds a prominent place. Its continued presence makes it possible to discover words and meanings, encourage their use and contribute to the recognition and transmission of this linguistic heritage.

The teaching guide is a central piece of the project. It gives teachers context, explanations and guidance for presenting and passing on the knowledge gathered in the agenda, including the words, the “Did you know…?” entries and the biographies. It also offers complementary activities to go deeper and adapt them to the different primary-school ages, making it usable without prior specialist knowledge.

The method combines reading, dialogue, reflection, artistic expression and participatory activities. The connection between the agenda, the guide and the audiovisual resources allows content to be introduced in an accessible way, reinforced through different experiences and carried on throughout the school year.

Romanín, the character who accompanies the pupils, plays a prominent role. Through the videos he presents the biographies of Romani figures in accessible language and with a narration designed to spark children’s curiosity. The audiovisual resources, reached through the QR codes in the agenda, become a starting point for questions, conversations and teacher-led activities.

The rollout at CEIP Asdrúbal includes sessions with pupils and a guidance session for teachers on using the materials. An initial and final assessment, adapted by age, is also planned to explore how pupils’ knowledge evolves. Input from the teaching team will help assess how useful the resources are and identify improvements.

Cartagena will be the starting point of an initiative whose replication is planned at national and European scale. The pilot will make it possible to document its application, adjust the method and guide its adaptation to other schools and educational contexts.