Category Archives: Slovakia

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Expensive Kindergarten

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Expensive Kindergarten

The Hungarian state provided 460 million forints for the construction of a Reformed kindergarten in Tiszacsernyő (Slovakia); however, construction has not yet begun, despite the 2025 deadline.

According to an article by *Napunk*, the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia requested the funds on November 27, 2023, and the Bethlen Gábor Fund Management made the decision regarding the matter on December 9, 2024. Under the grant agreement, the kindergarten was to be built by December 31, 2025, with the financial and professional reports submitted by January 30, 2026. However, construction has not yet started. The site in question is covered in municipal waste and overgrown vegetation.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Teachers

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Slovak Teachers

 Teachers in Slovakia face complex challenges beyond just delivering lessons, often acting as psychologists, mediators, and advocates for their students, especially in classrooms with high numbers of marginalized Roma students.

A recent study found that while teachers in these environments experience significant stress, the presence of Roma students alone does not correlate directly with increased burnout; rather, it is the additional responsibilities and lack of support that contribute to their stress.

The study emphasizes the need for more support for teachers, such as the presence of educational assistants, to help them manage their expanded roles and ensure quality education for all students.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Roma Projects

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Slovak Roma Projects

A total of €335,845,065 was utilized last year to implement the action plan for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030. This is according to the monitoring report on the implementation of the action plans for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030 for the year 2025. The government is scheduled to review the document on Wednesday, October 7.

The Government Office of the Slovak Republic, which is submitting the report, specifies in the document that out of 159 activities designated for 2025, ten were successfully completed, 125 were in the implementation phase, 22 were in preparation, and two were assessed as unfulfilled. These tasks related to the field of education—specifically, supporting the acquisition of the Slovak language by pupils from Roma communities via their mother tongue through the creation of innovative teaching materials, and implementing activities to help pupils (including those from marginalized Roma communities) attain secondary vocational education.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Job Market

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Job Market

The United School in Čaklov is launching a project aimed at helping disadvantaged students integrate into the job market, with a budget of over 315,000 euros over 32 months.

The initiative will collaborate with a civic association working with Roma communities and a private sector representative providing vocational training. The project aims to strengthen social inclusion, connect education with practical skills, and create a pilot model for a simulated school integration social enterprise.

It will be interesting to see how many disadvantaged” students, aka Roma will find a job. One could then say if this was an efficient use of the money.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

PISA and Roma

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PISA and Roma

Juraj Čokyna has been working on education for students from generational poverty for a decade, focusing on the impact of socio-economic backgrounds on educational outcomes in Slovakia.

Recent PISA test results indicate that socio-economic factors significantly affect Slovak students’ performance, with experts noting that the education system struggles to address these inequalities.

Čokyna emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle early school leaving, highlighting the importance of understanding the diverse reasons behind it, including mental health issues and financial barriers.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia, Roma, and NGOs

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Slovakia, Roma, and NGOs

Rudolf Budai, a Romani goldsmith, has joined the political party Právo na pravdu to advocate for the Romani community and address issues of poverty and exploitation by NGOs and state-funded organizations.

Budai criticizes the misuse of state funds meant for cultural support, highlighting the high costs of cultural events that burden impoverished families, and calls for free access to state-funded cultural activities.

He proposes the establishment of state enterprises in Romani communities to create jobs and improve living conditions, while party leaders emphasize the need for accountability and a return to work ethics in addressing community issues.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Inclusion of Marginalised Communities

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Inclusion of Marginalised Communities

The Slovak Government Council for the Inclusion of Marginalized Roma Communities held its first meeting on September 22, 2026, in Bratislava, focusing on procedural operations and the current status of EU funds for Roma inclusion.

The Council aims to propose and coordinate effective public policies for the integration of marginalized Roma communities, aligning with Slovakia’s commitments to Roma inclusion and the Slovakia Program 2021-2027.

Key discussions included the implementation of the Slovakia Program budget, recommendations from the final evaluation report, and preparations for the National and Regional Partnership Plan for 2028-2034.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Róbert Hamburgbadžo

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Róbert Hamburgbadžo

Róbert Hamburgbadžo discusses his journey from a poor Roma background to becoming a journalist, emphasizing the challenges of Romani journalism in Slovakia.

He highlights the lack of support for Romani communities in Spišský Hrhov, despite it being cited as a model for integration.

Hamburgbadžo aims to mentor future journalists and establish a scholarship program for Romani students, while also expressing a desire to create a documentary that authentically represents Romani life.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

A Success Story

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A Success Story

Mariana reflects on her childhood in a close-knit community and the discrimination she faced as a Romni when seeking work after her education.

After moving to the Czech Republic, she found better job opportunities and a more positive work environment compared to Slovakia, but faced challenges upon returning home to care for her mother.

Mariana emphasizes the need for support and education for Romani children in settlements to help them envision a different life and avoid being stuck.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Digital Safety

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Digital Safety

The #BezpečnáSieť (#SafeNetwork) project aims to strengthen digital safety among young Roma. It is being implemented by the Divé maky civic association. The project addresses risks such as online abuse, cyber-grooming, sexting, loss of privacy, and other threats young people may face in the online environment.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Drought

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Drought

A prolonged drought in Rudňany, Slovakia, has led to a severe water shortage in local Roma settlements, particularly in Pätoraká, where wells have dried up.

The municipality has provided a water tanker for daily supply, but residents are resorting to unsafe water sources due to insufficient clean water.

Efforts to improve conditions include a newly opened hygiene center in Zabijanec, which offers showers and laundry facilities, positively impacting local hygiene and children’s well-being.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Day of the Roma

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Day of the Roma

Myjava, Slovakia, will host the Day of Roma event in September 2026, celebrating Roma culture with two days of music, dance, and exhibitions.

The event will feature performances from the Jaghále Čhaja dance group and the Vladoboys band, along with inspiring documentaries about successful Roma individuals.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Evaluation

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Slovak Evaluation

The Slovak government has approved the second phase of a national project aimed at monitoring and evaluating inclusive policies for the Roma population, particularly marginalized communities.

The project will enhance existing monitoring systems with new analytical tools, big data analysis, and public opinion surveys, with a budget of nearly 5.7 million euros funded by the European Social Fund.

Key objectives include providing relevant data for policy evaluation and ensuring continuous monitoring of the implementation of the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2030.

Well, rather than evaluate, they should do something about it…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Bari Balvaj

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Bari Balvaj

The Bari Balvaj! festival aims to promote Roma art to a wider audience and is hosted at the East Slovak Gallery, a significant cultural venue in the region.

The festival will feature various performances, including traditional Romani music and dance workshops, highlighting the importance of cultural diversity in the Košice region.

The event is open to everyone, encouraging participation and appreciation of Romani culture without prejudice, while also targeting Romani audiences.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Pisa Study and Slovakia

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Pisa Study and Slovakia

Slovak Education Minister Tomáš Drucker acknowledges the negative impact of socio-economic backgrounds on student performance and is implementing reforms to address this issue, including earlier access to pre-primary education.

Recent changes in a large Roma community in Jarovnice involved the removal of afternoon classes, leading to all children attending school only in the morning.

Teachers play a crucial role in these reforms, with a focus on providing equal educational opportunities regardless of a child’s family background, as emphasized by Drucker and supported by opposition claims of neglect in education under previous governments.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Bela Pokuta

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Bela Pokuta

Béla Pokuta, a prominent Romani singer, left behind numerous recordings that may be compiled into a new album, blending his early authentic singing with later musical experimentation from the group afterPhurikane.

His music, characterized by raw emotion and a unique atmosphere, has been preserved in recordings spanning over two decades, with the oldest dating back to 2001.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the completion of the album, which aims to document Pokuta’s exceptional musical journey from a Romani settlement to European concert stages.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Some SMARK Results …

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Some SMARK Results …

The report reveals that 51% of Roma communities in Slovakia lack sidewalks, with many also facing barriers like rivers or railways separating them from the rest of the municipality. While the Sociographic Mapping of Roma Communities (SMARK 2025) indicates improvements in technical infrastructure since 2019, particularly in water supply, sewage, electricity, and public lighting,

significant disparities remain between Roma localities and surrounding municipalities, particularly in access to gas and other utilities.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

SMARK

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SMARK

The SMARK initiative aims to provide updated data on the living conditions of people in Roma communities, helping to identify and address specific issues.

The mapping shows an increase in the Roma population since 2019, with changes in the municipalities providing data, including the largest Roma community now being Jarovnice instead of Košice-Luník IX.

Positive developments in integration efforts are noted in Nové Zámky, where principles of desegregation and destigmatization have led to significant progress.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Grave

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Roma Grave

The family of Zlatici Balážová, known as Ťumy, has redesigned her extravagant grave in Prešov, Slovakia, returning to a red and white floral theme while adding golden angel statues.

The grave, made of polished pink marble, is a prominent feature in the cemetery, reflecting the family’s ongoing dedication to honoring her memory with annual decorations.

Zlatici was buried six years ago, and her husband organized a lavish funeral that included a horse-drawn carriage, showcasing their affinity for luxury and elaborate tributes.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

EU Funds

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EU Funds

Vladimir Ledecký criticizes the allocation of EU funds for Roma projects, claiming they are wasted on ineffective projects instead of addressing real issues in Roma communities.

He highlights potential corruption and nepotism in government-funded initiatives, particularly involving the organization Lavuta, which is linked to the government plenipotentiary for Roma communities, Alexander Daško, who has arranged 749,000 euros for his wife.

The Ministry of Labour defends the projects as necessary and compliant with regulations, while Lavuta argues that their work is essential for improving the lives of families in poverty.

His voice carries weigth, as he is known for his exemplary work with the Roma community when as the mayor of Spišsky Hrov and during his work in the Prešov region.

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