11

INSETRom

A European Project for Roma Pupils’

Educational Inclusion

INSETROM in Austria

Dr. Mikael LuciakUniversity of Vienna

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 22

Roma in AustriaRoma in Austria

AutochthonousAutochthonous Migrant BackgroundMigrant Background

Burgenland-RomaBurgenland-Roma Gurbet (Vlach)Gurbet (Vlach)

SintiSinti Kalderaš (Vlach)Kalderaš (Vlach)

Lovara (Vlach)Lovara (Vlach) Arlije Arlije

Estimated group size: 25,000 - 40,000 people (total); about 2/3 migrant background

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 33

Within-Group DiversityWithin-Group Diversity

Socio-political status Socio-political status

Settlement areaSettlement area

History - Culture – Language - ReligionHistory - Culture – Language - Religion

Length of stay in AustriaLength of stay in Austria

Relationship to the majority populationRelationship to the majority population

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 44

What is Roma Education?What is Roma Education?

„„Special“ education for Roma?Special“ education for Roma?

e.g., special needs education; reduced e.g., special needs education; reduced curriculum: „practical“ educationcurriculum: „practical“ education

Minority schooling?Minority schooling?

e.g., bilingual/bicultural educatione.g., bilingual/bicultural education

Culturally responsive teaching in inclusive Culturally responsive teaching in inclusive educational settings?educational settings?

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 55

What is Roma Inclusion? (1)

Increasing school participation and attendance rates

Placement/Access in regular schools

Improving educational achievement

Social integration and participation in all areas of life

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 66

What is Roma Inclusion? (2)

Developing inclusive/ intercultural curricula and pedagogy

Inclusive/ intercultural teacher education

Fostering relationships with parents and Roma communities

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 77

What is the problem?

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 88

Assumption Knowing the

- History of schooling of Roma in Austria and in other countries

- Data on educational underachievement of immigrant students with socially disadvantaged backgrounds

- The school systems‘ inadequate response to diversity

→ Assumption: Roma students underachieve and participate less in education

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 99

What is the evidence?What is the evidence?

No school statistics on Roma No school statistics on Roma

Data on citizenship and language not conclusiveData on citizenship and language not conclusive

No data on school choice and achievementNo data on school choice and achievement

No data on absenteeism/ drop-out rateNo data on absenteeism/ drop-out rate

No data on transition from school to workNo data on transition from school to work

Lack of researchLack of research

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1010

Research methodology Qualitative interviews (individuals/ groups)

- Teachers

- Roma native language teachers and - assistants

- Roma parents and Roma students

- Heads and instructors in after-school programmes

Participant observation in schools and afterschool programmes

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1111

Achievement and Participation of Roma with migrant background

Comparatively low educational attainment

Higher rates of absenteeism

Higher rate of early school leavers

Low parent involvement

Difficult transition from school to work

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1212

Predominant explanationsPredominant explanations

TeachersTeachers

- Roma are not interested in education; Children - Roma are not interested in education; Children come to school unprepared; No homeworkcome to school unprepared; No homework

StudentsStudents

- Lack of support from parents; Learning - Lack of support from parents; Learning environment at home not conduciveenvironment at home not conducive

ParentsParents

- Children do not learn/ attend school; Teachers - Children do not learn/ attend school; Teachers want to send children to special schoolswant to send children to special schools

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1313

Interrelating explanatory variablesInterrelating explanatory variables

Cultural and language differencesCultural and language differences

Social background and home environmentSocial background and home environment

Parents‘ attitudes, aspirations, educational Parents‘ attitudes, aspirations, educational level, knowledge about the school systemlevel, knowledge about the school system

Institutional/ systemic factorsInstitutional/ systemic factors

Structural/ societal inequalitiesStructural/ societal inequalities

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1414

Teacher In-Service TrainingTeacher In-Service TrainingIndicated because:Indicated because:

Teacher‘s preconceived notions about Teacher‘s preconceived notions about Roma and „Roma culture“Roma and „Roma culture“

Lack of knowledge about RomaLack of knowledge about Roma

Lack of recognition of Roma identityLack of recognition of Roma identity

Lack of knowledge about languages spokenLack of knowledge about languages spoken

Unsuccessful strategies in working with Unsuccessful strategies in working with parentsparents

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1515

Teacher In-Service TrainingTeacher In-Service TrainingGoals:Goals:

Increase participation and accessIncrease participation and access

Empowerment and social integrationEmpowerment and social integration

Reduce the risk of segregationReduce the risk of segregation

Improve learning outcomesImprove learning outcomes

Improve teacher-parent collaborationImprove teacher-parent collaboration

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1616

Teacher In-Service TrainingTeacher In-Service TrainingProcess:Process: Reflection on own social/ cultural background; Reflection on own social/ cultural background;

stereotypes and prejudicesstereotypes and prejudices Understand meaning of cultural and language Understand meaning of cultural and language

differencesdifferences Understand relevance of systemic and structural Understand relevance of systemic and structural

factorsfactors Develop more inclusive/ intercultural curricula Develop more inclusive/ intercultural curricula

and pedagogyand pedagogy Collaboration with Roma teachers/ assistantsCollaboration with Roma teachers/ assistants

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1717

Empirical evidence on outcomes – Empirical evidence on outcomes – Knowledge and Insights gainedKnowledge and Insights gained

Focus on inter-relations instead of culture of „the Focus on inter-relations instead of culture of „the other“other“

Understand diffent values, norms, customsUnderstand diffent values, norms, customs

Learn to use gate-keepers to get access to Learn to use gate-keepers to get access to Roma families Roma families

Don‘t rely on parents‘ help with homeworkDon‘t rely on parents‘ help with homework

No written notices to parents No written notices to parents

Inquire about language use and competencies Inquire about language use and competencies

13.11.200913.11.2009 MCL 2009MCL 2009 1818

Empirical evidence on outcomes – Empirical evidence on outcomes – Practical implementationPractical implementation

Use school materials and literature on Roma

Poems and songs in Romanes

Visit exhibts on Roma history and daily life

Discussing stereotypes and prejudices

Teacher-parent conferences with help of Roma native language teacher

Collaboration with after-school programmes

1919

Schukar Di!Schukar Di!