SCHOOL AS GHETTO Systemic Overrepresentation of Roma in Special Education in Slovakia

1. SCHOOL AS GHETTOSystemic Overrepresentation of Roma in Special Education in Slovakia ROMA EDUCATION FUND  Coordinators Eben Friedman ? Mihai Surdu Authors Eben Friedman ? Elena Gallov� Kriglerov� ? Martina Kub�nov� ? Martin Slosiarik

2. CONTEXT Romani children are overrepresented in special education in most countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) European Court of Human Rights decision in D.H. and Others vs. the Czech Republic UNICEF (2005) study of 23 countries in CEE: Slovakia had highest enrolment rate in basic special education programs in 2001 Enrolment rates in special education increased in the period 1989-2001 OECD (2007): �Streaming at an early age tends to increase the impact of socio-economic background on student performance.� Slovak education system divides children into streams 3 years earlier than OECD average (later only than Austria and Germany) The Slovak government has expressed a commitment to reduce the number of Romani children in special education REF seeks to assist the Slovak government in meeting this commitment European Court decision in D.H. and Others vs. the Czech Republic dramatically highlighted the disproportionate and inappropriate enrollment of Romani children in special education in the Czech Republic. A central characteristic of the Slovak education system is the early and rigid division of children into educational streams, with the initial division between standard and special primary education. Additionally, within standard education, the Slovak education system�s division of children at age eleven is three years earlier than the average among the 30 OECD member countries, with only Austrian and German systems streaming earlier (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007b). As OECD explains, �[s]treaming at an early age tends to increase the impact of socio-economic background on student performance [...]. The earlier students were stratified into separate institutions or programmes, the stronger was the impact which the school�s average socio-economic background had on performance� (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007a; see also �rad vl�dy Slovenskej republiky 2008: 12). In this sense, the Slovak education system reinforces social inequalities, such that children from low-income families are more likely to end up with lower levels of educational attainment which in turn make it probable that the next generation of children will be raised in poverty, thus completing a vicious circle. European Court decision in D.H. and Others vs. the Czech Republic dramatically highlighted the disproportionate and inappropriate enrollment of Romani children in special education in the Czech Republic. A central characteristic of the Slovak education system is the early and rigid division of children into educational streams, with the initial division between standard and special primary education. Additionally, within standard education, the Slovak education system�s division of children at age eleven is three years earlier than the average among the 30 OECD member countries, with only Austrian and German systems streaming earlier (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007b). As OECD explains, �[s]treaming at an early age tends to increase the impact of socio-economic background on student performance [...]. The earlier students were stratified into separate institutions or programmes, the stronger was the impact which the school�s average socio-economic background had on performance� (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007a; see also �rad vl�dy Slovenskej republiky 2008: 12). In this sense, the Slovak education system reinforces social inequalities, such that children from low-income families are more likely to end up with lower levels of educational attainment which in turn make it probable that the next generation of children will be raised in poverty, thus completing a vicious circle.

3. AIMS AND APPROACH Aims of the study Quantify representation of Roma in special education for children with mental disability Analyze factors accounting for level of representation Provide sound empirical basis for measures to address situation Approach Complements country studies on Czech Republic (2008) and Serbia (to be published in 2009) Combines quantitative and qualitative research Statistically representative sample allows conclusions about country as whole

4. ENROLMENT The representative survey conducted on special schools and classes in Slovakia in the framework of this study provides a basis for rough country-level estimates on the absolute numbers and relative proportions of Romani pupils enrolled in special primary schools, special classes in standard primary schools, and special secondary schools. In the 2007-2008 school year, there were 179 special primary schools in Slovakia, such that the survey sample of 38 special primary schools represents 21.22 percent of all special primary schools in Slovakia. Given that director and teacher estimates of the numbers of Romani pupils in the special primary schools included in this sample range from 1,740 to 1,943 Romani pupils, the total number of Romani pupils in special primary schools in Slovakia can be estimated at between 8,200 and 9,150. Estimates of the total numbers in special classes in standard schools and in special primary schools can be produced in the same manner. Insofar as the 46 standard primary schools with special classes included in the survey sample constitute 21.29 percent of all such schools in Slovakia, the approximate total number of Roma enrolled in special classes in standard primary schools throughout the country is 4,800. A similarly informed estimate of the total number of non-Romani pupils in special classes in standard primary schools in Slovakia is 790. In this light, the views of special classes in standard primary schools expressed by many Romani parents as well as by some directors and teaching assistants as classes for Roma are not far from reality. The fifteen special secondary schools included in the survey sample amount to 21.12 percent of all special primary schools. Whereas directors� estimates of the number of Roma in the respective schools total 379, teachers participating in the survey provided higher estimates, reaching a total of 437 Romani students. Based on these estimates from special secondary schools included in this sample, the total absolute number of Romani pupils in special secondary schools in Slovakia can be estimated between 1,794 and 2,069. The representative survey conducted on special schools and classes in Slovakia in the framework of this study provides a basis for rough country-level estimates on the absolute numbers and relative proportions of Romani pupils enrolled in special primary schools, special classes in standard primary schools, and special secondary schools. In the 2007-2008 school year, there were 179 special primary schools in Slovakia, such that the survey sample of 38 special primary schools represents 21.22 percent of all special primary schools in Slovakia. Given that director and teacher estimates of the numbers of Romani pupils in the special primary schools included in this sample range from 1,740 to 1,943 Romani pupils, the total number of Romani pupils in special primary schools in Slovakia can be estimated at between 8,200 and 9,150. Estimates of the total numbers in special classes in standard schools and in special primary schools can be produced in the same manner. Insofar as the 46 standard primary schools with special classes included in the survey sample constitute 21.29 percent of all such schools in Slovakia, the approximate total number of Roma enrolled in special classes in standard primary schools throughout the country is 4,800. A similarly informed estimate of the total number of non-Romani pupils in special classes in standard primary schools in Slovakia is 790. In this light, the views of special classes in standard primary schools expressed by many Romani parents as well as by some directors and teaching assistants as classes for Roma are not far from reality. The fifteen special secondary schools included in the survey sample amount to 21.12 percent of all special primary schools. Whereas directors� estimates of the number of Roma in the respective schools total 379, teachers participating in the survey provided higher estimates, reaching a total of 437 Romani students. Based on these estimates from special secondary schools included in this sample, the total absolute number of Romani pupils in special secondary schools in Slovakia can be estimated between 1,794 and 2,069.

5. OTHER KEY FINDINGS Children in special education face extremely limited possibilities for: (Re-)integration to standard education Further education Special education is a poor investment� For individuals: They cannot find stable work For the state: Persons with incomplete primary education or who completed basic education in practical school cannot be expected to provide a net financial benefit to the state

6. BARRIERS TO CHANGE Level 1: Policy Official awareness of problems appears relatively recent Lack of coherence among official prescriptions Level 2: Institutions Normative funding system creates perverse recruitment incentives Conflict of interest between special schools and special pedagogical advising centres Level 3: Families Attraction of special education Problems in standard education Insufficient awareness of consequences of enrolment in special education A complex of factors contribute to the continued overrepresentation of Roma in special education. Some of these factors are related to the procedures and mechanisms by which children enter and leave special education. No less important, however, are the motivations of relevant institutions and of Romani parents to enrol children in special schools and classes. Factors leading Romani parents to enrol their children in special education include not only the aspects of special schools and classes which make them attractive, but also various difficulties associated with the participation of Romani children in standard education. Additionally, some parents are simply not aware of the options available and of the differences among them. A complex of factors contribute to the continued overrepresentation of Roma in special education. Some of these factors are related to the procedures and mechanisms by which children enter and leave special education. No less important, however, are the motivations of relevant institutions and of Romani parents to enrol children in special schools and classes. Factors leading Romani parents to enrol their children in special education include not only the aspects of special schools and classes which make them attractive, but also various difficulties associated with the participation of Romani children in standard education. Additionally, some parents are simply not aware of the options available and of the differences among them.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS - 1 Set target for eliminating overrepresentation of Roma in special schools and classes. Discontinue psychological testing as a mechanism for assigning children to special education in pre-school and the early years of primary school. Apply mechanisms for identifying and reversing inappropriate placement in special education. Abolish special primary schools for children with mild mental disability. Distinguish explicitly and clearly between mental disability, social disadvantage, and ethnicity. The Slovak government has demonstrated an awareness of problems related to special education since at least 2001, when the Slovak Ministry of Education issued a call for lowering the number of children (without specification of ethnicity) in special schools by way of precise diagnoses and a concept on the integration of children with special needs into standard schools (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2001: 15). Three years later, the Ministry noted the need to prevent formation of segregated classes for Romani children (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2004: 6). In the same document, the Ministry calls for applying the experiences from projects for reintegrating Romani children into standard primary schools while creating appropriate conditions in the receiving schools (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2004: 8). Reducing the number of Romani children attending special primary schools and special training facilities also figures among the five objectives of Slovakia�s National Action Plan for the Decade of Roma Inclusion (Government of the Slovak Republic 2005: 5-6; see also �rad vl�dy Slovenskej republiky 2008: 13). The goal corresponding to this objective is elimination of misdiagnosis of Romani children, with the corresponding expectation that the number of Romani children placed in special primary schools and special training facilities will be reduced by fifteen percent by 2015. However, no information is provided as to the basis for this expectation or as to how misdiagnosis will be eliminated. Taking into account the current situation and the Slovak government�s political commitment to addressing the situation, the recommendations reflect the need for specific targeted measures in order to reverse patterns of segregation of Roma in special education. The Slovak government has demonstrated an awareness of problems related to special education since at least 2001, when the Slovak Ministry of Education issued a call for lowering the number of children (without specification of ethnicity) in special schools by way of precise diagnoses and a concept on the integration of children with special needs into standard schools (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2001: 15). Three years later, the Ministry noted the need to prevent formation of segregated classes for Romani children (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2004: 6). In the same document, the Ministry calls for applying the experiences from projects for reintegrating Romani children into standard primary schools while creating appropriate conditions in the receiving schools (Ministerstvo �kolstva Slovenskej republiky 2004: 8). Reducing the number of Romani children attending special primary schools and special training facilities also figures among the five objectives of Slovakia�s National Action Plan for the Decade of Roma Inclusion (Government of the Slovak Republic 2005: 5-6; see also �rad vl�dy Slovenskej republiky 2008: 13). The goal corresponding to this objective is elimination of misdiagnosis of Romani children, with the corresponding expectation that the number of Romani children placed in special primary schools and special training facilities will be reduced by fifteen percent by 2015. However, no information is provided as to the basis for this expectation or as to how misdiagnosis will be eliminated. Taking into account the current situation and the Slovak government�s political commitment to addressing the situation, the recommendations reflect the need for specific targeted measures in order to reverse patterns of segregation of Roma in special education.

8. RECOMMENDATIONS - 2 Promote and practice informed parental consent. Ensure access to ethnically integrated standard pre-schools. Review and revise the school funding scheme to create incentives for integration of Roma in mainstream schools and classes. Restructure the system of advising centres. Provide appropriate pre- and in-service training for education staff. Collect and maintain ethnically disaggregated data in conformity with EU standards on data protection.

9. THANK YOU! info@romaeducationfund.org