“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!