PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D.PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D.

Center for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture Center for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture

(www.cvek.sk) (www.cvek.sk)

Education of Roma as the greatest Challenge of Education of Roma as the greatest Challenge of Inclusion PoliciesInclusion Policies

High Level Event on Structural Funds contribution to High Level Event on Structural Funds contribution to Roma integration in SlvakiaRoma integration in Slvakia

Bratislava, 23. mája 2011Bratislava, 23. mája 2011

Non-inclusivness of Slovakia as Non-inclusivness of Slovakia as a major problem a major problem

Minority policies and attempts to integrate and Minority policies and attempts to integrate and accommodate minorities failed in accommodate minorities failed in SlovakiaSlovakia due due to structural reasons. to structural reasons.

In fact, they will be remain unsuccessful without In fact, they will be remain unsuccessful without changes of a nation state character, changes of a nation state character, constitutional changes, and precise definition constitutional changes, and precise definition of integration aims.of integration aims. Slovakia Slovakia should start to should start to discuss and solve „racist paradox“ of their discuss and solve „racist paradox“ of their minority policies.minority policies.

Example of Slovakia as an ethicized country Example of Slovakia as an ethicized country shows that the major issue is non-shows that the major issue is non-inclusiveness. inclusiveness.

Core of the problem…Core of the problem…How to become part of the core.How to become part of the core. ► Integration in both social and civic terms rests on Integration in both social and civic terms rests on

the concept of equal  opportunities for all. In socio-the concept of equal  opportunities for all. In socio-economic terms, migrants must have equal economic terms, migrants must have equal opportunities to lead just as dignified, independent opportunities to lead just as dignified, independent and active lives as the rest of the population.and active lives as the rest of the population.

► Equality. Is it enough? Equality. Is it enough?

► Integration is successful when Integration is successful when autochtonous autochtonous minorities and minorities and migrants become part of the core in migrants become part of the core in all aspects of life - social, societal, economic, all aspects of life - social, societal, economic, cultural, and symbolic ones.cultural, and symbolic ones. Integration cannot be Integration cannot be successful in situation when successful in situation when minorities and minorities and migrants have problems to penetrate into the core migrants have problems to penetrate into the core of society. of society.

Lessons learned - conceptual levelLessons learned - conceptual level

► 1. The Roma issue represents a combination of ethnic and social 1. The Roma issue represents a combination of ethnic and social problems, which must both be taken into account when preparing problems, which must both be taken into account when preparing public policies. Strictly non-ethnic approach will not secure better public policies. Strictly non-ethnic approach will not secure better involvement of Roma on the labour market and their integration in a involvement of Roma on the labour market and their integration in a society in general. Social work cannot be separated from so-called society in general. Social work cannot be separated from so-called Roma issues. The example of Slovakia shows that there are clear Roma issues. The example of Slovakia shows that there are clear limits of the non-ethnic approach. limits of the non-ethnic approach.

► 2. The approach taken towards Roma should be based on 2. The approach taken towards Roma should be based on desegregation of the Roma. Segregation is clearly a factor that desegregation of the Roma. Segregation is clearly a factor that deepens social dependency of marginalized groups on the social deepens social dependency of marginalized groups on the social system and segregation is also to be blamed for certain social system and segregation is also to be blamed for certain social pathologies in the most marginalized communities. pathologies in the most marginalized communities.

► 3. Lack of coordination between administrative bodies responsible for 3. Lack of coordination between administrative bodies responsible for inclusion of marginalized Roma proved to be of major importance. In inclusion of marginalized Roma proved to be of major importance. In the case of Slovakia, cooperation between Ministry of Labour, Social the case of Slovakia, cooperation between Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family, Ministry of Education, and Governmental Office Affairs, and Family, Ministry of Education, and Governmental Office (Governmental Plenipotentiary for Roma communities) has been (Governmental Plenipotentiary for Roma communities) has been insufficient or in some periods missing completely.insufficient or in some periods missing completely. Various failures of Various failures of programs targeting Roma communities clearly indicate that programs targeting Roma communities clearly indicate that coordination and mutual awareness are a necessary prerequisite when coordination and mutual awareness are a necessary prerequisite when public policies are prepared.public policies are prepared.

Unclear Goals of Integration Unclear Goals of Integration PoliciesPolicies

More generally it is not fully clear what goals the More generally it is not fully clear what goals the governmentgovernmentss want to achieve by particular want to achieve by particular arrangements, what is the vision of all possible arrangements, what is the vision of all possible investments. All policies should be focused on full investments. All policies should be focused on full integration in all dimensions: integration in all dimensions:

1. 1. Cultural integration; Cultural integration; 2. 2. Social-economic integration; Social-economic integration; 3. 3. Civic-political integration.Civic-political integration.

The only dimension of these integrations that is The only dimension of these integrations that is relatively successful is the civic-political integration. relatively successful is the civic-political integration. Even this achievement is, however, more a result of Even this achievement is, however, more a result of the level of assimilation of Roma the level of assimilation of Roma and disappearanceand disappearance of Roma identity than of some consistent state of Roma identity than of some consistent state policy. policy.

Social exclusionSocial exclusion

► Social exclusion means Social exclusion means 1.1. IInsufficient involvement in the nsufficient involvement in the systems of systems of

production, family life, life of the production, family life, life of the community and political lifecommunity and political life, ,

2.2. IInsufficient nsufficient aaccess to ccess to basic civil rightsbasic civil rights, , including the right to political and including the right to political and religious beliefs, religious beliefs,

3.3. IInsufficient nsufficient ccultural/national identity and ultural/national identity and recognitionrecognition within civic society within civic society, , iinvolvement in cultural activities and, nvolvement in cultural activities and,

4.4. IInsufficient nsufficient ssharing haring social rightssocial rights, including , including the right to access social institutions, the right to access social institutions, education and health care, to enjoy social education and health care, to enjoy social protection and to be able to secure protection and to be able to secure housinghousing

Important PImportant Principles for rinciples for integration policiesintegration policies

FFollowing three principles can secure full integration and ollowing three principles can secure full integration and accommodation of Roma into the “core” part of societyaccommodation of Roma into the “core” part of society::

Principle of de-stigmatizationPrinciple of de-stigmatizationThis principle allows overcoming the social dependency trap on This principle allows overcoming the social dependency trap on

benefits. It requires individual assessment of each individual benefits. It requires individual assessment of each individual case of social exclusion and social dependency. It therefore case of social exclusion and social dependency. It therefore does not allow confirmation of stereotypes of Roma being a does not allow confirmation of stereotypes of Roma being a potential parasite. potential parasite.

Principle of de-segregationPrinciple of de-segregationThis principle allows to removes spatial segregation of Roma This principle allows to removes spatial segregation of Roma

families and settlements. The first step is building and families and settlements. The first step is building and connecting the infrastructure in the locality. connecting the infrastructure in the locality.

Principle of de-gPrinciple of de-ghhetoizationetoizationThis principle allows to increases social cohesion in a locality. It This principle allows to increases social cohesion in a locality. It

means means ppredominantly to remove, in continuity with principles of redominantly to remove, in continuity with principles of de-stigmatization and de-segregation, social isolation of Roma de-stigmatization and de-segregation, social isolation of Roma who live in Roma settlements. who live in Roma settlements.

HHow to ensure the same access to education for ow to ensure the same access to education for both Roma and non-Roma children?both Roma and non-Roma children? /Opinions of /Opinions of

Roma/Roma/

equal schoolsw ith no special

approach

Roma teachersand Romany as

the teachinglanguage

children shouldtake preparatory

languagecourses

a Roma class ina non-Roma

school

separateschools for the

Roma

84,60%

12,50%44%

8,20% 5,80%

IInterest of Roma in Using Romany Language in nterest of Roma in Using Romany Language in

Schools.Schools.

   All subjectsAll subjects Some subjectsSome subjects No subjectsNo subjects Don’t knowDon’t know

Primary schoolPrimary school 11%11% 33%33% 45%45% 11%11%

Secondary Secondary schoolschool

6%6% 23%23% 54%54% 17%17%

Higher Higher educationeducation

5%5% 17%17% 54%54% 24%24%