steps to end segregation of romani children in slovakia’s schools high level event on the...
TRANSCRIPT
Steps to end segregation of Romani children in Slovakia’s schools
High Level Event on the Structural Funds contribution
to Roma integration in Slovakia – Bratislava, 23 May 2011
Situation - segregation
Romani children separated in ethnically segregated schools or classes across the country
Romani children separated in ‘special classes’ designed for pupils with ‘mild mental disabilities established within mainstream schools
Romani children separated across the country in ‘special schools’ designed for pupils with ‘mild mental disabilities’
Romani pupils separated in kindergartens, school cafeterias, etc.
Positive steps so far
In 2008 the new Slovak Schools Act includes a “prohibition of discrimination, especially in the form of segregation”
In 2008 the government adopts a Concept of Education and Training of Romani Children and Pupils, including a commitment to decrease the number of Romani pupils in special schools
In 2010 the new government programme includes a commitment to adopt measures to end segregation on the basis of ethnic origin in education
Insufficient measures – insufficient will?
The ban on discrimination and segregation has yet to be implemented No concrete measures have been adopted yet by the new government to that end Representatives of the Slovak government (for example Ambassadors with whom
Amnesty International met) continue to deny that segregation is a result of structural failures within the Slovak education system
1. Segregation in Roma-only mainstream schools or classes
Education often of lower quality than that provided in classes attended primarily by non-Roma pupils
Teachers often have lower expectations of their pupils
Fewer resources and poorer quality infrastructure at the disposal of such schools
Often linked to residential segregation In other cases it is a result of decisions by local and
educational authorities often as a result of pressure by non-Roma parents or as a reaction to ‘white flight’
School catchments areas reinforcing segregation of Romani pupils in education (case of Prešov)
2. Segregation in special schools
The education provided in special schools for pupils with ‘mild mental disabilities’ is not equal to the education provided in mainstream schools – Schools Act 2008
Focus on development of practical rather than academic skills; curriculum at least two years behind that taught in mainstream schools
Certificate received is lower-graded; pupils are eligible to continue only in special secondary education
Return to mainstream school is almost impossible Special educational needs assessment – often one-off
and at early age – does not take into account Romani children’s cultural and linguistic differences, or of their socio-economic circumstances
3. Segregation in special classes of mainstream schools
According to the Roma Education Fund (2009) Romani children make up to 85.8 per cent of pupils in such classes
Often a response by school management to pressure by non-Roma parents and ‘white-flight’
Steps to end segregation
Adopt concrete policy measures to implement the prohibition of discrimination:
Develop a plan for desegregation, clearly identifying bodies responsible and introducing yearly targets for its implementation
Introduce a clear duty on all schools to desegregate education; such a duty should be accompanied by effective support for schools to desegregate
Review all decisions by local and educational authorities to create separate classes or schools, to ensure they do not violate the prohibition of discrimination and segregation
Introduce adequate support measures for Roma and non-Roma children who need extra assistance so that they may achieve their fullest potential within mainstream schools, and in order to promote inclusive education
Steps to end segregation
Ensure monitoring and accountability for the violation of prohibition of discrimination and segregation
Strengthen the mandates and powers of the State School Inspectorate and the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, providing adequate resources and clear guidelines for the identification, monitoring and combating of segregation
Provide effective remedies for discrimination and segregation to all victims, including through the establishment of a complaints mechanism and by strengthening the mandate of monitoring bodies
Ensure that school advisory centres, including Centres for Pedagogical Psychological Counselling and Special Pedagogical Centres are inspected and monitored with a view of combating discrimination and segregation
Collect data, disaggregated by gender and ethnicity, in line with international and European standards for the protection of private data and the principle of self-identification
Steps to end segregation
The government of Slovakia must ensure that the use of EU funds does not lead to school segregation of Romani children
Furthermore, the EU Framework Strategy calls on Member States to identify and implement necessary measures to ensure effective use of EU funds for the social and economic inclusion of Roma, including “to promote desegregation in all policies and to avoid reproducing segregation, so as to overcome this problem in the long term” (paragraph 26)
Concluding questions
Is the Ministry of Education working on a comprehensive plan for the desegregation of Slovak schools?
Does the upcoming Concept of Regional Education or any other legal or policy instrument currently being prepared by the Ministry of Education introduce a clear duty on all schools to desegregate?
Does the upcoming Concept or any other legal or policy instrument currently being prepared address the current lack of safeguards against discrimination in the existing system of school placement and pupil assessment?
Does the Ministry of Education plan to start the collection of data disaggregated by the prohibited grounds of discrimination – including gender and ethnicity – in education in order to monitor the extent of segregation of Romani children and to assess the impact of policies and measures taken?
What measures will the Government take to ensure that EU funds are used to end the segregation of Romani children in Slovakia’s schools?
