Edukacja romskiej mniejszości etnicznej w Polsce na tle uwarunkowań społeczno- ekonomicznych
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Authors
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Polskie Twarzystwo Geograficzne
Abstract
Przedmiotem artykułu jest edukacja Romów w Polsce, będąca najważniejszym warunkiem poprawy sytuacji społeczno-ekonomicznej tej mniejszości etnicznej w Polsce. Określenia stanu edukacji dokonano analizując trzy elementy. Pierwszym jest organizacja szkolnictwa romskiego, opartego na klasach integracyjnych polsko-romskich i wspieranego działaniami „Programu na rzecz społeczności romskiej w Polsce”. W drugiej części określono poziom edukacji dzieci romskich w Polsce na podstawie analizy wybranych wskaźników edukacyjnych. Poziom ten okazał się niski. W trzeciej części określono uwarunkowania społeczne i ekonomiczne, determinujące stan edukacji romskich dzieci w Polsce, korzystając z literatury, wyników badań innych autorów oraz badań własnych wśród dzieci polskich i romskich.The problem undertaken by the author in the article is the education of the Roma ethnic minority in Poland on the background of social and economic conditions. The Romani people are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe (10–12 million) and they are one of the larger minority groups in Poland. According to the 2002 National Population and Housing Census, 12,731 Polish citizens declared to belong to the Roma ethnic minority. Functioning stereotypes, different Romani lifestyle and values enhance the social and economic problems of most of today's Roma. The main cause, but also the key to solve the problems of the Roma minority is their education. Uneducated and unemployed parents are often unwilling to send their children to school, so the problem is hereditary. The author of the article, bearing in mind the vital role of education in improving the situation of Polish Roma, attempts to determine the current state of education of Roma children on the basis of selected indicators of education, and to analyse some social and economic determinants of their education. In the first part of the article the author presents the concepts and changes in the organization of education of Roma children in Poland. The focus is on the current status of education, in particular on the activities undertaken in the "Programme for the Roma Community", but also problems with teaching staff and education materials. Analysis of the state of education of Roma children is based on the data obtained from reports on the implementation of the governmental "Programme for the Roma Community" from the years 2003–2010, related to the rate of implementation of compulsory education, school attendance levels, grade point average, the number of Roma education assistants, support teachers and the number of children attending remedial classes. Analysis of these statistics shows that in spite of all efforts and considerable funds spent on them, the state of education of Roma children in Poland is still low. The implementation of compulsory education by Roma children has changed significantly over the period 2003–2010, showing no clear trend and it is also highly variable in different Polish provinces. Only in two provinces in the year 2010 all children under compulsory school age attended school, but in most provinces compulsory education rate was much lower. In five provinces it was slightly above 50%. Among the children attending school frequent absence was quite common. Average school attendance of Roma children in Poland in 2010 was 72.8%. Low education level is also indicated by a very low average grades of Roma children, which slightly varies in particular provinces over the studied years. In 2010, in as many as in 10 provinces Roma children reached grade point average only between 2 and 3. Learning problems cause that children should attend remedial classes in order to fill gaps in knowledge and skills. Thus, in 2010 for example, in nine provinces more than half of Roma students attended these classes. Important in the Roma children education is also help from support teachers and Roma education assistants who should be the connection between the Romani world and the Polish school, and people who are always ready to help the children. Unfortunately, their number per Roma pupil varies and is still insufficient. In almost all provinces, over the studied years, the number of Roma assistants did not exceed eight assistants per 100 pupils attending school. In the case of support teachers the number is much larger – usually up to 15 teachers per 100 Romani students. Low education level of Roma children is caused by social and economic determinants. These determinants have been specified by the author on the basis of the analysis of literature, and research studies conducted in school in the town of Nowy Sacz, in the form of surveys carried out among Polish and Roma children, and an interview with the Roma assistant. Economic problems of Polish Roma, analyzed by the author, are best illustrated by the rate of unemployment. In the studied period in nine provinces the unemployment rate among Roma was above 90%. Parental unemployment has a large impact on financial situation of the children. This is proved by the results of research studies conducted by the author in Nowy Sacz. Among the surveyed children only two thirds of them declared that they have the necessary school supplies, which was also confirmed by their Roma assistant. In the article attention is also paid to the social determinants of Romani education and major cultural differences affecting it. Important social determinants are also integration problems. The results of surveys show that the degree of declared and actual tolerance among Polish children varies greatly. During the sociometric research it turned out that in mixed Polish-Romani classes, Roma children are often isolated and rejected, and they prefer to stay in their own company. The subject, although only outlined in this paper, seems to be a significant issue, not only for the author but also social geographers, people undertaking educational initiatives and those who are working to preserve the identity of the Roma.
Description
Citation
Świętek A., 2013, Edukacja romskiej mniejszości etnicznej w Polsce na tle uwarunkowań społeczno- ekonomicznych, Czasopismo Geograficzne 84(1–2): 65–81.