Ad urges Roma not to send children to practical schools

Prague, Feb 11 (CTK) - Young musicians are trying to persuade Romany parents not to send their children to practical schools for the slightly mentally disabled and those with learning difficulties, in a Czech spot presented by the Slovo (Word) 21 association.

Four young rappers from the United GipsyCrew feature in the spot that also introduces successful Romanies, such as moderator Richard Samko, nurse Maria Klabouchova and David Benak, a postgraduate student of a doctor's programme.

A too high number of Romany kids end up in practical, previously special, schools. It has been confirmed that some of them are placed there unrightfully.

Parents must always give consent to it.

However, some Romany parents are striving for sending their kids to these facilities over the lack of information or because they attended them themselves.

The spot was shot for seminars with Romany parents focused on the importance of quality education for their offspring.

Its director Marketa Neslehova said the spot should also point to a new self-confident generation growing up in the Romany community that "does not want to be another generation lost somewhere between practical schools and labour offices."

The spot authors want to remind of the discrimination against Romany children at school. Young Romanies often come from socially deprived localities, and this is why they end up in practical schools though they are not mentally disabled.

Martina Horvathova, from the association, blames Romany parents' unawareness of the problem, wrong diagnostics at children's psychological advisory centres and schools' discriminatory approach for the situation.

A survey carried out by the Ombudsman's Office shows that 32-35 percent of Romanies end up in practical schools, while Romanies make up 1.4-2.8 percent of the population in the 10.5-million Czech Republic.

In reaction to international criticism, the Education Ministry is taking steps to improve the situation. The whole strategy of placing children in practical schools is to be remade.

Practical schools will not be authorised to have preparatory classes and the temporary diagnostic stays of problematic pupils at practical schools will be restricted in two years.

But the ministry does not plan to abolish these facilities completely.