Good practices addressing school integration of Roma/Gypsy children in Hungary

TitleGood practices addressing school integration of Roma/Gypsy children in Hungary
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsMessing, Vera
Journal titleIntercultural Education
Year2008
Pages461-473
Volume19
Issue5
Abstract

Our recent project1 has a comparative perspective: it compares selected good practices of integration of ethnic minority children among three European countries (Italy, Switzerland and Hungary). The project examines several key areas of integration: governmental policies, NGO practices and most importantly good practices that might be transferable, irrespective of differences regarding national environment and ethnic group. We focus here on Hungary and aim to identify key elements of good practices of integrating Roma/Gypsy2 children such as creative pedagogical methods, differentiated personal treatment of children with learning problems, a multicultural curriculum, teacher training, extracurricular activities, community building and family involvement. This paper describes an innovative and transferable practice that promotes inclusion and addresses low school-performance and high dropout rates among low status Roma children. The 'Learnery' project is an after-school programme run by the minority community with the professional assistance of the public school. Results of the innovative practice are convincing: improved school performance, significant decrease in dropout rates, improved community relationships, and decrease of interethnic conflicts within the school.

ISSN1467-5986
LanguageEnglish
DOI10.1080/14675980802531721
Publisher linkhttp://tinyurl.com/4y5s9qz
Unit: 
Center for Policy Studies (CPS)