Together or Separately? Gypsies, the Roma, Hungarians, and the School

Forray R., Katalin

We have been living together for centuries - or only next to each other? Gypsies and non-gypsies have to rely on each other - we share the responsibility of how we make ends meet. In this relation, Hungarian society is the stronger partner, thus it also bears a major part of the responsibility, but Roma communities also have to assume responsibility for themselves and for their children.
Prior to the political transition, the ratio of Gypsies in employment was the same as that of the Hungarian majority, but the collapse of the economy washed away their mostly unskilled jobs that required no special training. Education, our schools themselves are key players in shaping the future: are Roma children going to be able to break out from deep poverty, unemployment, and dependency on aid? And is a well-trained, strong, and proud Roma middle class going to be born? And finally, is it separate schools adjusted to the level of knowledge of Roma children and youth that will take us closer to a solid and successful society, or, on the contrary, will it be achieved with the help of integrated education?

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