Inclusion and Integration of Roma children in Czech Schools (konference Generace Fair, 14.11.2012,...

“Inclusion and Integration of Roma children in Czech Schools”

Conference in Prague

League of Human Rights November 14th 2012

“Educational Inclusion of Roma – How we did it! Securing sustainable change against the odds for Roma inclusion – observations based on the UK

experience”

• Contents:

• What is educational inclusion?

• Why does it matter?

• How can it be achieved?

• What part can/should you play?

But first of all – Thank you!

Brief background to Roma in the United Kingdom (UK)

• Roma came in the 16th century (Scotland)• 90,000 (semi-nomadic in caravans on sites)• 350,000+ living in houses (no official

recognition)• Travellers of Irish/Scottish heritage (language

Gammon/Cant but 20% of lexicon Romani!)• Fairground, circus, New Travellers, Bargees• Roma from CEE 400,000+ (Slovakia, Czech

Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania since 1989)

English Roma (Gypsies 1970s)

90,000 (semi-nomadic in caravans on sites 2012)

Fairground/Show peopleCircus and New Travellers

Roma from CEE 400,000+ (Slovakia, CZ, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania since 1989)

1. What is educational inclusion?• In short: Its about valuing everybody

equally–all human beings-children being educated together

Educational inclusion is not about this!

• Picture of chocolate – mix it all in and hope there are no lumps and one colour!

Nor is educational inclusion about this!

• Picture of garage just serving petrol – one size fits all!

Activity for a bit of fun!

• List all the people who would be excluded from this garage as a potential customer!

• Cars using diesel, gas, paraffin, electric charge• Any one wanting engine oil!• Local farmer with light aircraft for spraying crops –

aviation fuel• Those needing water and air and repairs• Those needing food/drink, sweets, newspapers etc.• Toilets• And so on and so on!!!!!!!

But inclusion is about this! An inclusive school

• Petrol Stations (read schools) are getting increasingly modern and customer friendly...

• Each oil company is trying to attract & retain its customers by creating a sense of assurance regarding Quality & Quantity of fuel delivered, good environment, slogans, added facilities like ATMs, shopping stores, coffee pubs, ice cream parlors and loyalty programmes.

Very different to this, is it not?This is a non-inclusive school!