GOS ROMA STRATEGY: STEPS FORWARD IN EDUCATION

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000855

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/RPM HEATHER TROUTMAN
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CSCE COMMISSION - ERIKA SCHLAGER
BUDAPEST FOR USAID - MONIQUE NOWICKI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB SOCI LO
SUBJECT: GOS ROMA STRATEGY: STEPS FORWARD IN EDUCATION

REFTEL: (A) BRATISLAVA 740

(B) BRATISLAVA 789

This is the third in a series of cables on current GOS
activities to address Roma issues.


1. Summary. In Slovakia, Roma comprise an estimated twenty-
five percent of the population under 16 years old. Children
with Romany ethnicity, particularly in Eastern Slovakia, are
more likely to be placed into "special schools" for the
mentally disabled and less likely to attain secondary
education. The GOS recently introduced several programs to
help combat these problems, such as employing Roma Teaching
Assistants (RTA) and providing stipends for students.
However, the "Concept of Integrated Education of Roma
Children" approved by the GOS in May has yet to be converted
into practical actions. End Summary.

"Special Schools" and Roma Integration
--------------


2. The Ministry of Education (MOE) estimates that
approximately 43 percent of Roma are children under 16 years
old. About 40 percent of these children attend special
schools for the mentally disabled, compared with only 3
percent of Slovaks or Hungarians. Human rights observers
state Roma are not adequately tested for disabilities, but
are more often placed into "special schools" due to poor
Slovak language comprehension or non-standard behaviors
resulting from growing up in extreme poverty.


3. The educational system is currently undergoing
reorganization and preparation for significant changes. In
May, the GOS approved the "Concept of Integrated Education
of Roma Children." This plan will transform legislation and
operational activities with a substantial increase in
funding. The MOE is expected to submit a new Law on Schools
in December replacing the current law that dates back to the
Communist era, which will compliment this effort. Although
local governments are closing elementary schools for
financial reasons, but the status of "special schools,"
administered by the MOE through regional offices, will not
be affected.

MOE Roma Initiatives
--------------


4. Roma Teaching Assistants: NGOs and international donors
supported numerous Roma Teaching Assistants (RTAs) pilot
programs, which the GOS later adopted. RTAs, funded through
the MOE or through the local unemployment office, help
students in the classroom with communication and homework
after school.


5. Preparatory classes: Few Roma children are enrolled in
preschool classes, and thus do not have the same level of
preparation upon entering elementary school. The GOS
supports a preparatory grade designed for Roma children in
their first year of school. In the past school year, 121
schools opened new preparatory grades that will accommodate
1737 students.


6. Scholarships: In the 2004/2005 school year, the
government will begin providing scholarships to secondary
and university students from disadvantaged families. The
money will supplement transportation and material costs to
attend school. Nearly 28,000 students will be eligible for a
1000 SKK (33 USD) monthly payment.


7. Holding Parents Accountable: Recently-strengthened laws
tightened measures against parents of truant children. If a
child is chronically absent from school, local officials can
garnish benefit payments or pursue criminal charges. A
school director in Rakusy told emboffs that on occasion
parents kept children at home so local officials would
disburse their money instead of having to hand over benefit
payments to the local moneylenders.


8. Encouraging Secondary School: The Banska Bystrica
regional government with assistance from the EU has recently
begun a Gandhi school in Slovakia for Roma children, based
on the successful model operating in Pecs, Hungary. Thirty-
nine children from socially disadvantaged families (30
percent are non-Roma) began studying at the boarding school.
Organizers believe that boarding schools will produce a
larger Roma middle class able to enter public service and
other professions, but have high material costs attached.
Two other locations also offer boarding school options.

Comment
--------------


9. There are several pilot educational models and assistance
programs currently operating and creating more opportunities
for Roma children. However, a complex program for
integration is still only at the stage of a "Concept." The
new Law on Schools will provide an improved legal base for
an open and flexible educational system in Slovakia and also
formalize the new initiatives to support Roma integration.
As more structures are institutionalized, the communication
and cultural barriers, that gave rise to the abuse of
"special schools," will hopefully disappear.

THAYER


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