Inclusion of the Roma population

Case study of Subotica, SerbiaBy Oszkár Szénási

Subotica, Serbia

148.401 citizens

38% Hungarians 24% Serbians 11% Croats 11% Bunjevci Romas, Macedonians,

Germans, Albanians, ...

63% Catholics 26% Orthodox Christians Protestants, Jews,

Muslims, ...

The changes of 90’s

Two large wave of refugees arrived to Subotica from:

1. Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

2. Kosovo

At the same time many local families left Subotica, mainly Hungarian intellectuals

Transition and results of the 90’s in Serbia

From 1991 to 2000 the country suffered from civil war, isolation, sanctions, hyperinflation and NATO bombing

Results: Devaluation of all civilization values Lack of confidence in state institutions Strong black market and black economy 400.000 refugees form the ex Yugoslav

Republics, primarily Serbs 200.000 internally displaced Serbs from

Kosovo

Transition and results of the 90’s in Serbia

Results of the transition, comparing data from 2000 and 2003:

Inflation from 113% to 8% Average salary 40 increased to 180 euros Average pension from 35 euros increased 4

times 919 enterprises were privatized until 2003

The situation today

Poverty is still huge

It is made even worse by the new world economic crisis

Tension among people coming from lower classes is significant

The largest part of the city’s social allocation determined by law barely covers the existential survival of the Kosovo Romas

The situation of Romas in Subotica

The estimated number of Romas in Subotica is 5.000

They have large families Illiteracy and functional

analphabetism is not rare Many don’t have any

identification Significant number of their

children are not registered

Inclusion of the Romas

In 2005 a Team for the inclusion of Roma children in the school system formed by the local government

They involved experts and two Roma high school students

From 2006 the 61% of Roma children between 7 and 14 were included in the school system

Inclusion of the Romas

The national government supports the additional tuition of Roma children until the 4th grade of elementary school

Many Roma children have difficulties in school and the number of drop-outs is high

Inclusion of the Romas

In 2009 the Local government of Subotica is supporting the additional tuition of young Roma children in elementary schools in the 5th and 6th grade.

The additional lessons concentrate on learning: Serbian language, learning methods and communicational skills.

Inclusion of the Romas

The local government made an overall social strategy for the period 2008-2012

The question of Romas is treated in a separate chapter

Focus is on education There is a constant lack of finances for the

realisation of the strategy and the action plans defined in it