According to official census of people and houses from 2001, 82.000 citizens of Slovakia declared their Roma nationality. Given the fact that these data are relatively inaccurate as many respondents did not put in the true information, the number of Roma people in Slovakia has been estimated for 320 thousands. Roma pupils have big problems in the schools. Our school system has several systems, how to help them accelerate in the schools. (Zero grade or Teacher’s assistant). In the project APVV-20-049105 we asked teachers of Roma pupils (N=15), Roma pupils (N=12) and their parents (N=11) to know, what they think about the schooling, Non-Roma classmates, school systems, prejudice etc. Main aim of the survey was to identify the real needs of teachers and Roma parents and how to increase the success of Roma children in school. The prevalent method of the survey was semi-structured interview and its analysis.
Majority of teachers agreed that Roma pupils significantly (negatively) affect also the learning styles, learning outcomes, methods of teaching. The biggest problems are seen especially in absence of preparation at home, not bringing the school aids etc. In the field of needs of Roma pupils teachers saw differences. Most frequently were reported problems in the filed of creativity, temperament, ability to find an excuse under all circumstances, etc. If Roma parents are asked to help their kids, many parents do not help, because they either do not have interest or knowledge.
Parents think about school that it does not provide future. Reason for visit of school is mainly disrupting the school rules from the side of their children. Parents evaluate themselves as good parents, who do everything for their children. It is important for all the parents that their children will graduate the school to live better lives and it would be good for them to stay at school (elementary/secondary school). Parents think that teachers always shout at children, that they are bad, false and racists.
All pupils described their relationship to the teacher as positive. Pupils think that parents cannot help them to have better time in school. All respondents would like if their parents would deal with their school problems and tasks. They comment their relationships with classmates as “fine”. On the other hand they would not tell about their secret to any non-Roma child. In evaluation of best friends these characteristics are prevalent: kind, understanding, helpful, common hobbies, he is a good “gypsy”. Pupils do not have any problems with teachers, but some pupils state that they have problem with unobjective evaluation of teachers. Other people think about Roma that they are dirty, bad, smelly, they don’t learn, disrupt, are lazy, uneducated, messy.
We can conclude that teachers perceive Roma children as common part of the collective, however, they point out to their irregular attendance, which on the other hand parents won’t like to admit. Another common problem between parents and teachers is their mutual communication and their image. Both sides blame the other one. Fortunately, Roma pupils do not perceive the whole situation too negatively. They say that they do have problems neither with teachers nor with their non-Roma classmates. However, they realize that the view of society on Roma people is negative.