US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA855

UNCLAS  BRATISLAVA 000855 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM HEATHER TROUTMAN 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CSCE COMMISSION - ERIKA SCHLAGER 
BUDAPEST FOR USAID - MONIQUE NOWICKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, ELAB, SOCI, LO 
SUBJECT: GOS ROMA STRATEGY: STEPS FORWARD IN EDUCATION 
 
REFTEL: (A) BRATISLAVA 740 
 
        (B) BRATISLAVA 789 
 
This is the third in a series of cables on current GOS 
activities to address Roma issues. 
 
1. Summary. In Slovakia, Roma comprise an estimated twenty- 
five percent of the population under 16 years old.  Children 
with Romany ethnicity, particularly in Eastern Slovakia, are 
more likely to be placed into "special schools" for the 
mentally disabled and less likely to attain secondary 
education.  The GOS recently introduced several programs to 
help combat these problems, such as employing Roma Teaching 
Assistants (RTA) and providing stipends for students. 
However, the "Concept of Integrated Education of Roma 
Children" approved by the GOS in May has yet to be converted 
into practical actions. End Summary. 
 
"Special Schools" and Roma Integration 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. The Ministry of Education (MOE) estimates that 
approximately 43 percent of Roma are children under 16 years 
old.  About 40 percent of these children attend special 
schools for the mentally disabled, compared with only 3 
percent of Slovaks or Hungarians.  Human rights observers 
state Roma are not adequately tested for disabilities, but 
are more often placed into "special schools" due to poor 
Slovak language comprehension or non-standard behaviors 
resulting from growing up in extreme poverty. 
 
3. The educational system is currently undergoing 
reorganization and preparation for significant changes.  In 
May, the GOS approved the "Concept of Integrated Education 
of Roma Children."  This plan will transform legislation and 
operational activities with a substantial increase in 
funding.  The MOE is expected to submit a new Law on Schools 
in December replacing the current law that dates back to the 
Communist era, which will compliment this effort. Although 
local governments are closing elementary schools for 
financial reasons, but the status of "special schools," 
administered by the MOE through regional offices, will not 
be affected. 
 
MOE Roma Initiatives 
--------------------- 
 
4. Roma Teaching Assistants: NGOs and international donors 
supported numerous Roma Teaching Assistants (RTAs) pilot 
programs, which the GOS later adopted.  RTAs, funded through 
the MOE or through the local unemployment office, help 
students in the classroom with communication and homework 
after school. 
 
5. Preparatory classes: Few Roma children are enrolled in 
preschool classes, and thus do not have the same level of 
preparation upon entering elementary school.  The GOS 
supports a preparatory grade designed for Roma children in 
their first year of school.  In the past school year, 121 
schools opened new preparatory grades that will accommodate 
1737 students. 
 
6. Scholarships: In the 2004/2005 school year, the 
government will begin providing scholarships to secondary 
and university students from disadvantaged families. The 
money will supplement transportation and material costs to 
attend school. Nearly 28,000 students will be eligible for a 
1000 SKK (33 USD) monthly payment. 
 
7. Holding Parents Accountable: Recently-strengthened laws 
tightened measures against parents of truant children.  If a 
child is chronically absent from school, local officials can 
garnish benefit payments or pursue criminal charges. A 
school director in Rakusy told emboffs that on occasion 
parents kept children at home so local officials would 
disburse their money instead of having to hand over benefit 
payments to the local moneylenders. 
 
8. Encouraging Secondary School: The Banska Bystrica 
regional government with assistance from the EU has recently 
begun a Gandhi school in Slovakia for Roma children, based 
on the successful model operating in Pecs, Hungary. Thirty- 
nine children from socially disadvantaged families (30 
percent are non-Roma) began studying at the boarding school. 
Organizers believe that boarding schools will produce a 
larger Roma middle class able to enter public service and 
other professions, but have high material costs attached. 
Two other locations also offer boarding school options. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
9. There are several pilot educational models and assistance 
programs currently operating and creating more opportunities 
for Roma children.  However, a complex program for 
integration is still only at the stage of a "Concept."  The 
new Law on Schools will provide an improved legal base for 
an open and flexible educational system in Slovakia and also 
formalize the new initiatives to support Roma integration. 
As more structures are institutionalized, the communication 
and cultural barriers, that gave rise to the abuse of 
"special schools," will hopefully disappear. 
 
THAYER 
 
 
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