Re: Romany language to be taught in three high schools By Andrea Chalupa, May 12-18, Vol 9, No 18
This initiative should be welcomed, since it's important for the future of the country for some white Slovaks to be able to speak a [Roma] language, as well as the more obvious need for [the Roma] themselves to be able to take a school-leaving exam in their [own language].
More important than this initiative though is for [Roma] to get equal educational provision. A BBC news item on May 14 highlighted that this is far from being the case at present, though [Deputy Prime Minister for Minorities] Pál Csáky made an absolute fool of himself attempting to pretend there isn't a problem.
By far the biggest complaint against [Roma] in central Europe is that they aren't willing to "do as the Romans do", yet in failing to give their children proper schooling, the authorities are making integration impossible.
Birmingham, UK
26. May 2003 at 0:00
