Strategies and Tactics to Combat Segregation of Roma Children in Schools Case studies from Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Greece FXB Center for Health and Human Rights Harvard University 2015 About the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University The FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University (Harvard FXB) is an interdisciplinary center that works to protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of children, adolescents, youth and their families trapped in extreme circumstances throughout the world. Harvard FXB pursues this goal by conducting and supporting research, advocacy, and targeted action. About the report Harvard FXB was commissioned by the Roma Center for Social Intervention and Studies (Romani CRISS) to conduct research and report on Strategies and Tactics to Combat Segregation of Roma Children in Schools as part of the DARE-Net project (Desegregation and Action for Roma in Education Network). This report was funded with support from the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the European Commission. Report contributors Harvard FXB: Arlan Fuller, Executive Director; Margareta Matache, Instructor; Sarah Dougherty, former Research Associate; Krista Oehlke, Research Assistant University of Thessaloniki: Vasileia Digidiki, PhD © 2015 FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University Photos courtesy of Romani CRISS; Robert Vaszi, Roma activist; and DARE-Net. Glossary/Abbreviations NERC National Expert CEE Central and Eastern and Rehabilitation Europe Committee, Hungary CFCF Chance for Children NGO Non-governmental Foundation organization CHC Croatian Helsinki NPR National Program for Committee for Human the Roma Rights OEDC Organization DARE-Net Desegregation and for Economic Education Network Development and EC European Commission Cooperation EU European Union OSCE Organization ECHR European Convention for Security and on Human Rights Cooperation in Europe ECtHR European Court of ODIHR Office for Democratic Human Rights Institution and Human Rights ERRC European Roma Rights Centre PEA Hungarian Public Education Act ETA The Hungarian Act on Equal Treatment and RED Racial Equality the Promotion of Equal Directive Opportunities REF Roman Education EUMAP European Union Fund Monitoring and Romani Roma Center for Social Advocacy Program CRISS Interventions and of the Open Society Studies` Institute UNDP United Nations FRA Fundamental Rights Development Agency Programme GHM Greek Helsinki Monitor IDEKE Institute of Adult Continuing Education, Greece MEP Member of the European Parliament MSES Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Croatia NCCD National Council for Combating Discrimination, Romania Acknowledgements Strategies and Tactics to Combat Segregation of Roma Children in Schools was commissioned to the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights (FXB Center) by Romani CRISS and the DARE-Net (Desegregation and Action for Roma in Education Network). The report was authored by Arlan Fuller, Margareta Matache, Sarah Dougherty, Krista Oehlke, and Vasileia Digidiki.1 Krista Oehlke, Neil Mehrotra, Angela Murray, and Ashley Collins undertook edit and revision responsibilities. Margareta Matache was the lead researcher for this study, and Arlan Fuller coordinated the overall implementation of the project. The report was produced under the guidance and oversight of Professor Jacqueline Bhabha, Director of Research, Harvard FXB. Finally, the document benefited from the peer reviews of Jacqueline Bhabha and Marius Taba. The authorship of the chapters is as follows: Preface and methodology Margareta Matache and Arlan Fuller Romania case study Margareta Matache Croatia case study Margareta Matache and Sarah Dougherty Hungary case study Margareta Matache and Sarah Dougherty Czech Republic case study Arlan Fuller Bulgaria case study Krista Oehlke and Sarah Dougherty Greece case study Vasileia Digidiki Conclusion Margareta Matache and Arlan Fuller The report was developed based on interviews conducted in Europe with members of Roma communities, civil society, and institutions.2 We are deeply grateful to them for sharing with us their experiences, insights, and expertise. This report would not have been possible without their contributions. Our colleagues from Antigone, Chance for Children Foundation, European Roma Rights Centre, Integro, Life Together Association, Roma Education Fund, and Romani CRISS facilitated our interviews. Biserka Tomljenović (independent expert) as well as European Roma Rights Centre, Integro, Life Together Association, and Romani CRISS provided us with substantial feedback for the country case studies. We would like to extend our thanks to the following individuals for their assistance and support during field visits: Dzavit Berisha, Eva Carrow, Irina Croitoru, Judit Geller, Kadrin Hasanov, Vergil Ibryam, Simona Jiraskova, Kyriaki Karadiamanti, Bagryan Maksimov, Elisa Nardelli, and Biserka Tomljenović. We are also grateful for the support of the Harvard FXB staff, as well as researchers and consultants from the Harvard community, including Carrie Bronsther, Katalin Dobias, and Jelena Ivanis. Tizzy Tulloch, Communications Manager, did the design and layout of the report. 1 Vasileia Digidiki is a visiting researcher at Harvard FXB. Her fellowship has been co-financed through the action “State Scholarships Foundations-IKY” and supported by the operational program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the European Social Fund and the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013. 2 Details about the interviewees are available in the methodology section. Contents I. Preface 6 II. Methodology 9 III. Case Study: Advocacy for Desegregation Policies and Measures 11 III.1. Combating Segregation in Romania 12 IV. Case Studies: Strategic Litigation 34 IV.1. Combating Segregation in Croatia 35 IV.2. Combating Segregation in Hungary 54 V. Case Studies: Community Development 73 V.1. Combating Segregation in Czech Republic 74 V.2. Combating Segregation in Bulgaria 91 VI. Case Study: Intercultural Learning 105 VI. 1. Combating Segregation in Greece 106 VII. Reflections 116 VIII. Recommendations 120 Preface Roma children enter the world with the heavy baggage of intergenerational inequality, born into societies where discrimination and social-economic struggles are part of daily life. Researchers and policymakers agree that, across Europe, Roma children experience widespread, systematic exclusion from education, leading to significant gaps in participation and achievement. School segregation appears to be a major contributing factor to these gaping discrepancies in education. This report aims to review and synthetize the desegregation strategies and tactics of six non- governmental organizations (NGOs) in Central, Eastern, and Southern European countries. The report captures evidence-based data on the negative outcomes of segregation of Roma children in schools and highlights effective initiatives employed by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) in Croatia and Hungary, Romani CRISS in Romania, Life Together in Czech Republic, Integro in Bulgaria, and Antigone in Greece. These organizations comprise DARE-Net, a 2012 initiative led by Romani CRISS. During the project’s implementation, the Chance for Children Foundation (CFCF) joined the network and focused primarily on activities implemented in Hungary. The initiatives described in this report are presented as six case studies. Each case study summarizes findings based on an in-depth literature review and semi-structured interviews with communities, experts, and stakeholders. The case studies describe the work that has been done to advocate for changes in policy, legislation, curricula, and/or practice in political and societal environments that have been resistant to change. The Report Digest is available at http://fxb.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/ sites/5/2015/02/Romani-Segregation-2015-brief-version-final.pdf Despite the fact that the vast majority of Roma children enroll in school, only half complete primary education. Moreover, most do not even reach the level of secondary education,3 and less than one percent participate in tertiary education in some Central, Eastern, and Southern European countries.4 A broad range of factors determines these gaps, and in this report, we focus primarily on school segregation. Roma children continue to be placed in separate classes based solely on their skin color, ethnicity, and socio- economic situation; often they are placed into separate buildings, separate schools and classes, including special schools. As a result, Roma receive inferior education and endure discriminatory treatment from teachers and school administrators. Even when not physically separated, Roma children are routinely placed in the back of the class, receive less attention from their teachers, and endure bullying and stigma. Discriminatory treatment is often compounded by national education systems that lack the capacity to address the needs of socially and ethnically disadvantaged students and provide intercultural and inclusive environments. School segregation is now prohibited by European Union’s Race Equality Directive (RED), and domestic laws of each country for which we developed a case study; however, the practice persists and has been widely documented by civil society organizations and scholars. Segregation keeps Roma children away from quality