The Romani Education Programme
of the New School Foundation

Prague, Czech Republic

85 Percent Drop Out Rate: It is estimated that between 75 and 85 percent of all Romani children in the Czech Republic do not complete their education in the "mainstream" school system. In a typical example, only five percent of Romani children living in the Western Bohemian town of Rokycany finish elementary school.

Conflicts in the School Environment: "I would like that people loved each other like brothers. We Roma are in such misery, no one like us. I ask, why? Because we are a little bit darker than white?" Marek Horváth, age 10, Brno.*

Many Romani children view the classroom in "mainstream" school systems as a hostile, foreign environment. Different skin color, language , history and customs single out Romani children among their peers as being different. Furthermore, these differences are viewed as being negative and no aspects of Romani life are incorporated into the school curriculum. Romani children learn only "majority history", "majority music", "majority customs". Without any personal investment in "foreign education" many Romani students and parents lose interest in subjects taught at "mainstream" schools.

Segregated School System: Many Romani students drop-out or end up in "special schools" for children with disabilities. These schools offer a lower quality level of education and students progress at a slower rate, leaving them hopelessly behind students in "mainstream" schools. The result has been the creation of an unofficial segregated school system in which some special schools have a majority of Romanies and others are all Romani. Mrs. Tinterová, principal of a Special School in Prague told Helsinki Watch, "The non-Romani children definitely belong here. All of the Romani children do not belong here...."

Conflicts in Society, Unemployment, Crime: When the majority of Romani children finish their education on the primary level, their access to secondary education and vocational training is eliminated. They are cut off entirely from the job market and severely limited in mobility and development. This translates into problems in the social sphere such as high unemployment, drug abuse, criminality, political marginalisation and dependency on the state. These problems are especially prevalent among younger members of the community.

Racism and Discrimination: Since 1989, there has been an evident increase in racist sentiments in Czech society and a widening of the social and economic gap between the Romani minority and the majority population. Furthermore, independent organisations have documented the appearance of more than 25 extremist, neo-Nazi publications, 17 racially motivated murders and an average of 150 racially motivated attacks per year. The situation is very alarming when Romani families live in constant fear for their lives and no sign of improvement in the foreseeable future.

"I often watch the news and when they say that a skin head killed Roma, I say to myself, "why?" I am a Rom and I am not ashamed of it." Edita Lacková, age 12, Special School, Strakonice.*

Provide training and skills: The project provides training and expertise to members of the Romani community and elementary school educators of Romani children. This training is designed to resolve conflicts, improve protection of civil rights and further equal opportunity and non-discriminatory practices, including access to education, employment and full and equal participation in society for the Romani minority in the Czech Republic.

Resolve conflicts: Teachers and educators of Romani Children are trained in conflict resolution as well as in Romani culture, language and history so that they can better resolve conflicts and prevent discrimination in the learning environment. Romani Assistant Teachers are trained not only to assist teachers and act as a bridge between Romani students, families and communities, but also receive training in conflict resolution and identifying and resolving cases of racial discrimination in the classroom. Interrelated programmes, the central focus of which is the training and placement of Romani assistant teachers in classrooms with a high percentage of Romani students, are designed to integrate classrooms by transforming them into productive learning environments for Romani children.

Integrate communities: Co-operation between Romani communities and schools can be improved and Romani families more fully involved in the educational process by providing specialised language and cultural awareness training for teachers of Romani children, placing Romani Assistant Teachers in the classroom with whom they can communicate in their own language and making the school environment more hospitable for Romani students and parents. Ultimately, Romani students will be encouraged to remain enrolled in "mainstream" educational systems.

Create methodology for multi-cultural education: The programme is creating a methodology for reforming the mainstream education system through the integration of international standards of human rights and by transforming the classroom into a productive learning environment for all students. This is accomplished by building on positive connections between parents and teachers and between Romani communities and schools. The Romani assistants also serve as much needed positive role models for all of the children. We are in communication with the Ministry of Education and when programmes have been sufficiently tested and proven effective, we will work with the Ministry to institutionalise programmes to more effectively meet existing anti-discriminatory regulations. The wide application of multi-cultural, equal opportunity education will also directly benefit non-Romani (majority and minority) children teaching the equal value of different cultures and, therefore, promote tolerance throughout society.

Target groups:
 

• Romani children aged 5 to 11 (in particular the so called "zero or preparatory" classes), their parents, their wider families and Romani communities as a whole;
• Educators of Romani children. Teachers in preparatory classes and in lower grades of elementary schools where there are Romani students, school administrators, Romani assistant teachers;
• Non-Romani children and their parents. Because "mainstream" classrooms include children from many nationalities, primarily the national majority, these children are also one of the target groups. Consequently, the project will influence the thinking of the majority population;
• Government ministries, local authorities, school boards and educational institutions will be targeted to implement proven methods of integration and tolerance.

Support for Romani Teaching Assistants in Elementary Schools. We currently support six Romani teaching assistants in "mainstream" Czech public schools that have a high percentage of Romani students. The first assistant was placed at the elementary school in Pedlice, Ústí nad Labem in September 1996. Two more assistants were placed in February 1997 in schools in Prague 5 and Prague 3. In September 1997 three assistants were placed in Brno, Pardubice and Trmice. We co-operate with two others at the Pemysl Pitter school in Ostrava. The teaching assistants work directly with teachers in the classroom in all areas with a concentration on social studies, Czech language, mathematics, physical education and after school activities. They not only understand both cultures and can turn what differences that were previously viewed as handicaps into interesting educational advantages, but also serve as positive role models with whom the students can identify. Parents also more readily get involved in the learning process when they have a contact person with whom they can communicate in their own language. Romani teaching assistants not only improve the actual learning environment, but help to bring the Romani community in to the classroom. We plan to place additional teaching assistants by September 1998.



Description of Romani Teaching Assistants Responsibilities

Direct work with children:
 

• Work under the supervision of and according to the directions of teachers
• Work at least 22 hours per week directly with children in the classroom
• Individual work with children with learning disabilities and behaviour problems (according to teachers' instructions)
• Provide supervision during breaks, accompany children outside of the classroom
• Substitute teach (only for experienced assistants, and only in their own classroom according to the teachers' instructions)
• Supervise extracurricular activities for children (sport, music, dance clubs, etc.)


Other work:
 

• Attend educational classes for teaching assistants arranged by school or by other institutions
• Attend training courses in psychology and methodology of teaching according the directors' instruction
• Organising independent after-school activities for children


Training Courses for Romani Teaching Assistants: After a half-year of preparation, a week-long intensive training course has been created by the Resource Group (see below) and is offered twice per year for the training and placement of further assistants. The trainers are members of teacher training colleges, The Charles University in Prague, JE Purkynû University in Ustí nad Labem as well as experienced teachers and head masters from schools with a high percentage of Romani students. The course is recognised by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic and participants who complete the course receive official certification from the Ministry to assistant teachers in the classroom.

The first course was held in Ustí nad Labem on April 20-26, 1997 where 18 assistants received certification. This was the first meeting of the assistants from four schools (Prague, Ustí nad Labem, Ostrava), where they were able to exchange their experiences in these positions. Participants observed the work of teachers and assistants in the classroom, discussed teaching methods with experts and attended lectures of Romani language and history. From this meeting it was assessed that there is a need to repeat the course on a more regular basis as well as to co-ordinate regular meetings between teaching assistants and teachers and a meeting of head masters interested in participating in the programme. We are therefore planning to organise regular follow-up meetings for assistants.

Resolving Conflicts, Monitoring Discrimination Against Romani Students: Through the placement of Romani teaching assistants who are trained in methods of conflict resolution we can monitor the level of discrimination in Czech schools and implement methods of dealing with cases of discrimination while working towards better integration of the classroom. Teaching assistants will receive formal training in conflict resolution and identifying and dealing with instances of discrimination. Information compiled will be used by The New School Foundation in co-operation with experts, academics, sociologists, teachers and head masters to help establish a methodology for resolving interethnic conflicts in the school environment.



2. TEACHER TRAINING

Workshops for Teachers of Romani Children: 30 workshops will be organised in 1998 for teachers and educators of Romani children. These intensive workshops last three hours and concentrate on teaching Romani language, history, culture, music and conflict resolution in the classroom. Through participation in the workshops, teachers and educators learn about the cultural, linguistic and historical influences which shape Romani children’s behaviour and attitudes towards education as well as methods for resolving conflicts in the school environment. Making teachers aware of and sympathetic to the needs of Romani students as well as introducing mutli-cultural elements into the classroom makes the classroom a more productive learning environment for all students.

Summer Seminar For Teachers of Romani Children: The seven-day intensive summer seminar for teachers of Romani children is a follow-up to monthly workshops for teachers of Romani children as well as intensive Training Courses for Romani Teaching Assistants. The summer seminar is organised annually at the request of the educators of Romani children that we are in contact with to fill a need for the sharing of information and wider availability of training.

Each year we bring together Czech, Romani and foreign lecturers on Romani language, music and history as well as conflict resolution and integration methods in the classroom. Guests discuss their experiences and offer expertise on the education of Romani and minority children and inter-cultural education. Participants include the Romani teaching assistants which are currently working along side non-Romani as well as students from the pedagogical faculty who are interested in teaching Romani children or already work with them.

Workshops are organised on the following topics: Romani history, ethnography and culture and training workshops in Romani language and music. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss topics which, before 1989, could not be taught in universities. Participants will be provided with information and techniques which are not readily available to them to resolve concrete problems experienced in the classroom.

Romani Education Resource Group: The Romani Education Resource Group has been working since 1994 and was re-established in its current form in October 1996. This group consists of 20 experts including leaders from the Roma community, teachers, directors of schools, social workers, and representatives from teacher training institutes from across the Czech Republic. The Resource Group meets in its entirety at least 10 times per year, but members are consulted on a regular basis. Their task is to formulate the concept and methodology of the work of the Romani Education Project, monitor the progress of the project and suggest possible changes and improvements as well as provide contacts and necessary feedback for the co-ordinators. The Resource Group acts as an internal regulatory body which continually adjusts and improves the direction and administration of the project.

Information exchanges: The purpose of the five-day information exchange with organisations in Slovakia and Hungary is to get an overview of the situation in neighbouring countries for Romani minorities, including access to education, employment and politics as well as assessing levels of discrimination and co-operation with local government bodies and NGOs. The trip will also offer opportunities to exchange information with colleagues in the region and create networks. In Slovakia, participants will visit a Romani conservatory in Prelsov and a the Romani theatre, Romathon, in Kolsice. In Hungary participants will meet with regional representatives from the National Council for Minorities to discuss and learn about method of improving opportunities toward education and employment.

Meetings of Head Masters of Schools: The NSF will organise a meeting of school directors where Romani assistants work. The purpose of the meeting is to bring together school directors who work with teaching assistants and head masters of schools who are interested in the project to discuss the benefits of the project and how it works. School directors will also discuss problems encountered and solutions in order to co-ordinate efforts at the administrative level to incorporate the work of the teaching assistants into the daily running of the schools.

Teaching Assistants and Teachers Meetings: NSF will organise meetings of teachers and assistants during the school year 1997/98. During these meetings, teachers and assistants will create a description of the work of Romani teaching assistants based on previous experiences. The outcome of the project will be a publication based on experience of teachers, head masters and assistants.

Literary contest in the Romani Language "Romano Suno":  The first annual literary contest in the Romani language was opened March 1, 1997 in which over 100 students participated. Students in two age groups, 10 to 12 years and 13 to 15 years submitted either poetry or prose on the themes "Our Family", "My Dreams and Wishes," and "Interesting Things That Happened To Me," or on a theme of their own choosing. Three prizes are awarded in each of the age groups for the best submissions.

In the end of November 1997, a reception was held for 190 of the participating students and their parents at the Residence of the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Jerome Walker. The reception was attended by a representative from the Office of the President , Václav Havel; singer, Lucie Bílá; Milena Hubschmannová, PhD; and actor, Jan Potmûlsil. The best contributions were compiled into an illustrated volume of poetry and essays. For the coming year we have added a third age category, 15 to 18 years.

Meetings with Terka Fabiánová: Through this programme we plan to invite Romani author, Terka Fabiánová (author of Hobo and Sar me phiravas andre Skola - How I Went to School - both books are available in Romani and Czech), to visit schools to discuss writing and literature. We are negotiating the rights to use a film produced by Czechoslovak Television based on her book as a teaching aid. We plan to show the film and invite children to discuss it with the author afterwards. The goal of the programme is to motivate Romani children to develop an interest in writing and literature as well as provide them with a positive role model. We plan to organise at least 20 programmes in schools around Prague.

Textbooks: In 1997, we published and are distributing 1000 copies of the Text Book of Romani Folk Songs to be used as a teaching aid for Romani Music and Language. We are distributing the book to schools, cultural centres and education institutions. Depending on demand, the book will be reprinted in 1998. We plan to follow-up the book with a cassette of Romani folk songs. We also distribute posters of successful Roma to schools as well as three guides for teachers of Romani children.

Library of Romani Teaching Materials: We intend to greatly expand the amount of materials we have in our office on the general themes of multi-cultural education and education of minority children as they apply to improving the education of Romani children as well as a collection of Romani literature. Materials are being compiled in Romani, Czech and English and are available at our office.

Quarterly Bulletin: The quarterly bulletin will begin to be published in 1998 in the Czech and English languages. The bulletin will contain information about programmes and services designed to help Romani citizens in the Czech Republic, as well as articles contributed by authors.

Memories of Roma From Their Time at School: We have already collected the stories and memories of about 40 Roma from their time at school from across the Czech Republic. We plan to collect more and publish them in Romani and Czech for teachers, students and interested parties to show how some succeeded and some failed to overcome the challenges of growing up in an atmosphere that was often hostile and racist in the "mainstream" educational system.

Central European Romani Education Programme (CEREP): In order to create greater opportunities for Romani children throughout the region to receive equal opportunities to education, we have created a regional programme for improving opportunities for equal education of Romani children in Central Europe. Through CEREP we will train and place three Romani Assistant Teachers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, as well hold a regional literary contest in the Romani language with the authors of the 16 winning entries meeting in Budapest to discuss literature, the future of the Romani language, and issues confronting young Roma in Central Europe. A regional Romani Education Resource Group comprised of experts from participating countries has also been created to monitor the progress of the programme and suggest methods for improving it. The purpose of the programme is to transfer know-how and experiences in order to enhance and co-ordinate regional efforts to protect minority rights and improve equal opportunities and non-discrimination practices.

* Quotations are taken from the literary contest in the Romani language, "Romano Suno".

Information current as of 21 November 1997.

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