Czech teachers say Romani community not interested in school

The parents of some Romani schoolchildren in Ostrava took to the streets there recently to protest in front of the New Town Hall. Some of the problems bothering them are the fact that Romani children are not offered the same conditions for education as other children, that they are discriminated against and excluded from mainstream schools, and that they are educated in Romani-only classes and schools. Czech news server Deník.cz has now published a report on the negative and positive experiences of those who teach Romani people in the schools. News server Romea.cz presents it here in translation.

Negative experiences

Teachers contacted by Deník.cz and those who work with Romani children in the schools say the situation is a bit different than it has been portrayed by its critics. They say the parents of Romani children do not often attend class meetings and show no interest in their children’s education. Often, neither do the children themselves.

"The crux of their culture is that education is not a priority for them. Another problem is that the parents of these children often never completed primary education themselves, so it’s hard for them to help their children with their school responsibilities, and that is why the situation is the way it is," says Šárka Honová, director of the Trnkovecká Primary School in Slezská Ostrava.

Most of her pupils are Romani.

Honová says another pitfall is that Romani children often do not have the school supplies they need. "The crayon benefit was cancelled and the families simply either have no money for such equipment or use it for something else," Honová believes.

Barbora (age 36) is a teacher with several Romani children in her class. She says it is not easy to get them excited about education. "It works while they’re younger, but once they turn 13 or 14, school absolutely stops interesting them. I don’t have the time to focus on them only, especially when their families often do not cooperate," says Barbora, who did not want to reveal her real name for fear that some parents might take revenge on her. "The parents of one such pupil have never come to any class meetings."

According to Jolana Šmarhovyčová, a field social assistant, it would help if there were more Romani teaching assistants in the schools, people who could help the children master the material and communicate with their teachers. Director Honová also admits that would help.

"Unfortunately, no one gives us money for them. However, if the parents have no interest in their children’s education, even assistants won’t help," she said.

Positive examples

Markéta (age 25) works for an organization that tutors Romani children in Ostrava. From her own experience, she knows many of those children enjoy going to school.

"I visit a family with a 10-year-old boy. During the time I have been helping him he has improved his grades in several subjects. It takes patience," the young woman says.

Šmarhovyčová points out that Romani children are often segregated away from the majority society. Even though all-Romani classes and schools do not officially exist, she says these kinds of divisions occur in practice.

"How are these children supposed to be sufficiently motivated when they lack positive examples? When they only have schoolmates next to them who are in the same situation they are?" Šmarhovyčová asks.

A conference was recently held in Ostrava on minority education. Representatives of local authorities and nonprofit organizations attended it, as did parents and school directors.

"We proposed that the legal entity establishing the schools should monitor the percentage of Romani children in them. If that percentage rises to a certain number, they shouldn’t enroll any more Romani children," Šmarhovyčová said, adding that the number of Romani assistants in the schools also needs to be increased. "I think the various sides were open to one another here and the situation will improve."