Tag Archives: Education

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Boarding Schools

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There is a real media frenzy lately in Slovakia regarding the so-called “Roma Crime” and many suggestions of populists “solutions” to this “problem”. One of them is again the idea of setting up boarding schools. They are presented as a mean to help Roma get a better education and at reducing crime (yes). Arguments against these schools are presented here by Abel Ravasz, the Roma plenipotentiary in Slovakia.
Unfortunately, this has already been tried under communism. And, as these boarding schools were 100% Roma, the level of education provided was really low. This will happen again here. It is simply an attempt at assimilation.

– Namiesto zombi riešení pre Rómov urobme to, čo funguje. In: Dennik. 02.02.2018. https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/”]

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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More news this week in France on Roma. Main news is the subject of another post … Other than that, the mayor of the town of Sucy is again in front of the judges (third instance) for having denied Roma children the right to go to school. Let’s hope she is definitively condemned. Near Paris, in the Essons, a fire in a Roma camp injured three people. In Lille, in the North, a camp will be definitively closed. In Sètes, in the South West of France, 62 people were moved from a camp into temporary dwellings while in Montpellier, 40 Roma delegates invited themselves to a meeting of the city council. Finally, in Montpellier too, the story of an abduction of a dog by Roma. This story is doing the rounds in France, unfortunately.

– Nouveau procès pour la maire accusée de refuser des enfants roms à l’école. In: L’Express. 31.01.2018. https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/nouveau-proces-pour-la-maire-accusee-de-refuser-des-enfants-roms-a-l-ecole_1981154.html
– Scolarisation d’enfants roms : la maire de Sucy sera à nouveau jugée. In: Le Parisien. 02.02.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/val-de-marne-94/scolarisation-d-enfants-roms-la-maire-de-sucy-sera-a-nouveau-jugee-02-02-2018-7537392.php
– Vauhallan : deux femmes et un enfant brûlés dans l’incendie du camp de Roms. In: Le Parisien. 28.01.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/vauhallan-deux-femmes-et-un-enfant-brules-dans-l-incendie-du-camp-de-roms-28-01-2018-7527600.php
– Essonne : 3 blessés graves, dont un bébé, dans l’incendie d’un campement Rom. In: Europe 1. 29.01.2018. http://www.europe1.fr/faits-divers/essonne-3-blesses-graves-dont-un-bebe-dans-lincendie-dun-campement-rom-3558974
– Bidonville de l’Esplanade : des Roms finalement ” invités ” à partir et non expulsés ? In: La Voix du Nord. 30.01.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/307906/article/2018-01-30/bidonville-de-l-esplanade-des-roms-finalement-invites-partir-et-non-expulses
– Sète : la deuxième phase du transfert du camp s’est bien déroulée. In: Midi Libre. 02.02.2018. http://www.midilibre.fr/2018/02/01/sete-la-deuxieme-phase-du-transfert-du-camp-s-est-bien-deroulee,1622170.php
– Montpellier : quand les gitans s’invitent au conseil municipal. In: Midi Libre. 03.02.2018. http://www.midilibre.fr/2018/02/02/montpellier-quand-les-gitans-s-invitent-au-conseil-municipal,1622779.php
– Des Roms volent son chien et lui réclament une rançon. In: Wamiz. 30.01.2018. https://wamiz.com/chiens/actu/roms-volent-chien-reclament-ran-12014.html [link-preview url=”https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/nouveau-proces-pour-la-maire-accusee-de-refuser-des-enfants-roms-a-l-ecole_1981154.html “]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Boarding Schools?

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Some people in Slovakia suggest boarding schools as a solution to Roma education and crime (yes). A school head of a school attended by nearly 700 Roma is against this.
Good for him!

– Problémy Rómov môžu riešiť internátne školy, riaditeľka je proti. In: TA3. 22.01.2018. https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html [link-preview url=”https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Abel Ravasz

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The Slovak Plenipotnetiary for Roma affairs, Abel Ravasz from the party “Mošt – Hid” gave an interview to the press on his first two years in office.
While he certainly did good things, this latest interview is somewhat puzzling, especially regarding what he says about racism and discrimination of Roma in Slovakia. He says there is no such thing as a racist country and that there is “some discrimination” for Roma in education and work.
We don’t agree here.

– Rómsky splnomocnenec: Rasistické krajiny neexistujú. In: Aktuality. 11.01.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/551872/romsky-splnomocnenec-rasisticke-krajiny-neexistuju/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/551872/romsky-splnomocnenec-rasisticke-krajiny-neexistuju/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Penalties for Parents

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Slovenia is trying to introduce measures including penalties for parents whose children do not attend school.
This is not a solution.

– Kazni za romske starše. In: Mladina. 12.01.2018. http://www.mladina.si/183647/kazni-za-romske-starse/ [link-preview url=”http://www.mladina.si/183647/kazni-za-romske-starse/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Critique

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Yet another critique at the government measures on Roma in Slovakia. This time by Peter Pollak who was the previous Government Roma plenipotentiary in Slovakia. According to Pollak, the solution has to be based on education, starting in the nursery, and on crime prevention. It emphasizes the need to find solutions, but says the government does not do it. “In his statement, the Minister of the Interior, Robert Kaliňák, increases the tensions between the Roma and the majority, instead of striving to a rational resolution of conflicts, the elimination of crime and the support of decent people, he creates fear, tension and aggression,” Pollak said.

– P. Pollák: Kaliňákove opatrenia nevyriešia rómsku kriminalitu. In: Dobre Noviny. 12.01.2018. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/121652/p-pollak-kalinakove-opatrenia-nevyriesia-romsku-kriminalitu [link-preview url=”https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/121652/p-pollak-kalinakove-opatrenia-nevyriesia-romsku-kriminalitu”]

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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Seems that Roma have simply vanished in France, and that the problem of the ca. 20’000 Roma that make the headlines have vanished overnight.
Probably too many other news this week!
Nevertheless, in Marseille, two classes of young Roma children had a week in the mountain as part of the school curriculum. And an interesting article about the shantytowns in France, their history, current situation and the impact on society.

– “Les petits oubliés de Marseille“ et ”Grandir, ensemble”. In: FR3. 11.01.2018. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/emissions/enquetes-region/petits-oublies-marseille-grandir-ensemble-1399009.html
– Les bidonvilles, “réservoirs urbains de problèmes… et de solutions”. In: Télérama. 08.01.2018. http://www.telerama.fr/idees/les-bidonvilles,-reservoirs-urbains-de-problemes…-et-de-solutions,n5429725.php [link-preview url=”https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/emissions/enquetes-region/petits-oublies-marseille-grandir-ensemble-1399009.html “]

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Special Schools …

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It seems that the situation in the Czech Republic hasn’t improved at all in the last three years. 12.7% of Roma children are relegated to schools for children with mental disorders.
Note that Rome translates this as “reduced standard” but the Prague Monitor calls it by it correct name.
This is a practice that has long been the norm in that country and is not acceptable.

– Czech EdMin says number of Romani children educated according to reduced standards has not changed in three years. In: Romea. 07.01.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-edmin-says-number-of-romani-children-educated-according-to-reduced-standards-has-not-changed-in-three-year
– Over tenth of Czech Roma at schools for kids with mental disorder. In: The Prague Monitor. 06.01.2017. http://praguemonitor.com/2018/01/08/over-tenth-czech-roma-schools-kids-mental-disorder [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-edmin-says-number-of-romani-children-educated-according-to-reduced-standards-has-not-changed-in-three-year “]

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Schools in UK …

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A long article on the discriminations faced by Roma and Travellers’ children in UK schools, with a disproportionally large number of them being expelled.

– Why are Gypsy children often expelled from UK schools? In: Al Jazeera. 30.12.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/gypsy-children-expelled-uk-schools-171229075235572.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/gypsy-children-expelled-uk-schools-171229075235572.html”]

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Kiev: Integration Help

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Activists are helping Roma to integrated. Always to be taken with a grain of salt, as Human Rights are not necessarily the best angle for integration. Education of the overall population and generally education are key.
But good an necessary job in any case!

– Human rights activist from Kharkiv helps Roma community to integrate. In: Kyiv Post. 25.12.2017. https://www.kyivpost.com/lifestyle/people/journalism-of-tolerance/human-rights-activist-kharkiv-helps-roma-community-integrate.html [link-preview url=”https://www.kyivpost.com/lifestyle/people/journalism-of-tolerance/human-rights-activist-kharkiv-helps-roma-community-integrate.html”]

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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Very few news on Roma this week in France. Well, it’s Christmas week so bad news and Roma are not required to fill the papers.
First, a reportage on children of “Gitans” on M6 on January 7th. Just from the title and description, this doesn’t look good. Then, in Paris, an article on what happened to the inhabitants of a camp that was closed recently: Only 120 of the 300 people were taken care of, and some were proposed housing far from the schools of their children. In fact, children were removed from school rooters. Shame on them. Near Paris, a centre for integrated Roma will be put in place, whatever this means and will do. In Marseilles, the judges ponder on property rights following the fire in a squat that killed one person. In Montpellier, one again speaks about mistreatment of animals in a camp, while in Nantes, a solidarity movement is under way to help homeless and migrants. Finally, in Breizh Info (a really rabid news channel, a title page of three Roma who stole sheep and sold their meat.

– Enfants de gitans : document dimanche 7 janvier à 21 heures sur M6. In: Le Blog TV News. 19.12.2017. http://www.leblogtvnews.com/2017/12/enfants-de-gitans-document-dimanche-7-janvier-a-21-heures-sur-m6.html
– Hébergement Où sont passés les habitants du bidonville de la Chapelle ? In: L’Humanité. 19.12.2017. https://humanite.fr/hebergement-ou-sont-passes-les-habitants-du-bidonville-de-la-chapelle-647488
– Lagny-sur-Marne : les Roms intégrés accueillis sur le terrain du pôle solidaire. In: Le Parisien. 18.12.2017. https://fr.news.yahoo.com/lagny-marne-roms-intégrés-accueillis-terrain-pôle-solidaire-101815704.html
– Le droit de propriété perd sa prevalence. In: La Marseillaise. 23.12.2017. http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/faits-divers-justice/66248-le-droit-de-propriete-perd-sa-prevalence
– Montpellier : des chiens maltraités secourus dans un camp à Celleneuve. In: Midi Libre. 21.12.2017. http://www.midilibre.fr/2017/12/21/montpellier-des-chiens-maltraites-saisis-dans-un-camp-a-celleneuve,1606258.php
– Nantes. Un appel inédit pour les sans-abri. In: Ouest France. 21.12.2017. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/nantes-un-appel-inedit-pour-les-sans-abri-5460695
– Orvault : trois Roms volaient, abattaient et revendaient des moutons. In Breizh Info. 18.12.2017. https://www.breizh-info.com/2017/12/18/84545/orvault-trois-roms-volaient-abattaient-revendaient-moutons [link-preview url=”https://humanite.fr/hebergement-ou-sont-passes-les-habitants-du-bidonville-de-la-chapelle-647488″]

News Western Europe United Kingdom

How Bad Can it Get?

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Reading this article, one cannot but ask how bad journalism can get. It seems this is a very deep pit indeed. This article manages to present all stereotypes, mixes travellers and Roma and well, is of really bad taste …
What else can one expect from this paper…

– It’s a big fat gypsy Christmas! Granddaughter of Traveller king Paddy Doherty’s delight as Santa brings her a new CHALET (and schoolgirl wants it to be just as bling as her grandpa’s). In: Daily Mail. 14.12.2017. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5156507/Gypsy-king-Paddy-Doherty-lavishes-gifts-family.html [link-preview url=”http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5156507/Gypsy-king-Paddy-Doherty-lavishes-gifts-family.html”]

News Eastern Europe Poland

Poland: Controversy over Schools

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A Polish controversy highlights how Roma are regarded in that country (in spite of their low number): Resident of a Roma settlement are going to school in a neighbouring village instead of going to the school in their own village.
The resident of the other village are complaining saying that the other school is better suited for Roma (yes). In fact, they don’t want Roma in their school …

– Zaognia się wojna o małych Romów z Maszkowic. Szkoła w Jazowsku jest zamknięta na dzieci innego koloru skóry? In: Sadeczanin. 12.12.2017. https://sadeczanin.info/wiadomosci/zaognia-sie-wojna-o-malych-romow-z-maszkowic-szkola-w-jazowsku-jest-zamknieta-na-dzieci [link-preview url=”https://sadeczanin.info/wiadomosci/zaognia-sie-wojna-o-malych-romow-z-maszkowic-szkola-w-jazowsku-jest-zamknieta-na-dzieci”]

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Roma Children in Bosnia

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A reportage on a project of Caritas in Bosnia to help children integrate in the school system. The project is run in ten primary schools in Bosnia.
The article contains the usual views on Roma – better learn rather than beg – and fails to indicate that ten school are only a few of the one needed. But much more, it fails to say that many Roma were victims of the war and were evicted from their original homes.

– Enfants roms de la rue à l’école en Bosnie. In: Swiss Info (SWI). 04.12.2017. https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/pour-un-avenir-meilleur_enfants-roms-de-la-rue-à-l-école-en-bosnie/43725562 [link-preview url=”https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/pour-un-avenir-meilleur_enfants-roms-de-la-rue-à-l-école-en-bosnie/43725562″]

Europe

EU Platform for Roma

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The European Roma Platform probably missed a point in their deliberation and focus, namely that of the education at an early age of young Roma. This is where the problem starts and one of the key sources of later problems on the job market.

– EU PLATFORM FOR ROMA INCLUSION 2017, A MISSED CHANCE FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION. In: REYN. 29.11.2017. http://www.reyn.eu/news_posts/eu-platform-roma-inclusion-2017-missed-chance-childrens-education/ [link-preview url=”http://www.reyn.eu/news_posts/eu-platform-roma-inclusion-2017-missed-chance-childrens-education/”]

Europe

EU Platform for Roma

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The European Roma Platform probably missed a point in their deliberation and focus, namely that of the education at an early age of young Roma. This is where the problem starts and one of the key sources of later problems on the job market.

– EU PLATFORM FOR ROMA INCLUSION 2017, A MISSED CHANCE FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION. In: REYN. 29.11.2017. http://www.reyn.eu/news_posts/eu-platform-roma-inclusion-2017-missed-chance-childrens-education/ [link-preview url=”http://www.reyn.eu/news_posts/eu-platform-roma-inclusion-2017-missed-chance-childrens-education/”]

Uncategorized

Inclusion

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European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted the 11th European Platform for Roma Inclusion on the 27th and 28th of November. The main topic centred on the path from education to employment for young Roma.
Let’s hope thst this will bring something concrete.

– EESC hosts Platform for Roma Inclusion addressing education and employment prospects for young Roma. In: EESC. 28.11.2017. http://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/press-releases/eesc-hosts-platform-roma-inclusion-addressing-education-and-employment-prospects-young-roma [link-preview url=”http://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/press-releases/eesc-hosts-platform-roma-inclusion-addressing-education-and-employment-prospects-young-roma”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Special Schools or not?

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Slovakia has a tradition of putting Roma in special school for children with mental problems. An NGO wanted to check the situation. It still exists, but is probably more differentiated. In the Rokycani district, 20% of Roma children are still enrolled in such schools. High by any standards, but lower than it was.

– OĽaNO chce preveriť zaraďovanie Rómov do špeciálnych základných škôl. In: SME Domov. 25.11.2017. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20702484/olano-chce-preverit-zaradovanie-romov-do-specialnych-zakladnych-skol.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20702484/olano-chce-preverit-zaradovanie-romov-do-specialnych-zakladnych-skol.html”]

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Hepatitis

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There is an hepatitis A epidemic in the Roma Mahala in the small town of Rakovski near Plovdiv in the centre of the country. Non Roma parents have been protesting and requesting Roma children be removed from the elementary school.
How about treating them instead?

– Hepatitis A Sparks Protests for Removing Gypsies From an Elementary School. In: EU Scoop. https://www.euscoop.com/en/2017/11/23/gepatitis-infection-in-rakovski
– Roma Ghetto in Southern Bulgarian City Struggling with Hepatitis A Outbreak. In: Novinite. 23.11.2017. http://www.novinite.com/articles/185524/Roma+Ghetto+in+Southern+Bulgarian+City+Struggling+with+Hepatitis+A+Outbreak [link-preview url=”https://www.euscoop.com/en/2017/11/23/gepatitis-infection-in-rakovski “]

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Buddha, Roma, and Hungary

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A reportage about a Buddhist school founded in a small village in Hungary with the aim of helping young Roma to get an education and gain a foothold in life.
A must see.

– Der zornige Buddha. In: ZDF. 21.11.2017. https://www.zdf.de/filme/das-kleine-fernsehspiel/der-zornige-buddha-100.html [link-preview url=”https://www.zdf.de/filme/das-kleine-fernsehspiel/der-zornige-buddha-100.html”]

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