Transcript INSETRom in Austria, Mikael Luciak & Barbara Liegl

INSETRom
A European Project for Roma Pupils’
Educational Inclusion
INSETROM in Austria
Dr. Mikael Luciak
University of Vienna
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Roma in Austria
Autochthonous
Migrant Background
Burgenland-Roma
Gurbet (Vlach)
Sinti
Kalderaš (Vlach)
Lovara (Vlach)
Arlije
Estimated group size: 25,000 - 40,000 people (total); about 2/3
migrant background
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Within-Group Diversity

Socio-political status
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Settlement area
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History - Culture – Language - Religion
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Length of stay in Austria

Relationship to the majority population
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What is Roma Education?

„Special“ education for Roma?
e.g., special needs education; reduced
curriculum: „practical“ education

Minority schooling?
e.g., bilingual/bicultural education

Culturally responsive teaching in inclusive
educational settings?
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What is Roma Inclusion? (1)

Increasing school participation and
attendance rates
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Placement/Access in regular schools
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Improving educational achievement

Social integration and participation in all
areas of life
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What is Roma Inclusion? (2)

Developing inclusive/ intercultural curricula
and pedagogy

Inclusive/ intercultural teacher education

Fostering relationships with parents and
Roma communities
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What is the problem?
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Assumption
Knowing the
- History of schooling of Roma in Austria and in other
countries
- Data on educational underachievement of immigrant
students with socially disadvantaged backgrounds
-
The school systems‘ inadequate response to
diversity
→ Assumption: Roma students underachieve and
participate less in education
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What is the evidence?

No school statistics on Roma
Data on citizenship and language not conclusive

No data on school choice and achievement
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No data on absenteeism/ drop-out rate

No data on transition from school to work

Lack of research
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Research methodology

Qualitative interviews (individuals/ groups)
- Teachers
- Roma native language teachers and - assistants
- Roma parents and Roma students
- Heads and instructors in after-school programmes

Participant observation in schools and afterschool
programmes
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Achievement and Participation of
Roma with migrant background
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Comparatively low educational attainment
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Higher rates of absenteeism
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Higher rate of early school leavers
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Low parent involvement
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Difficult transition from school to work
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Predominant explanations

Teachers
- Roma are not interested in education; Children
come to school unprepared; No homework

Students
- Lack of support from parents; Learning
environment at home not conducive

Parents
- Children do not learn/ attend school; Teachers
want to send children to special schools
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Interrelating explanatory variables

Cultural and language differences
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Social background and home environment

Parents‘ attitudes, aspirations, educational
level, knowledge about the school system

Institutional/ systemic factors
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Structural/ societal inequalities
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Teacher In-Service Training
Indicated because:

Teacher‘s preconceived notions about
Roma and „Roma culture“
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Lack of knowledge about Roma
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Lack of recognition of Roma identity

Lack of knowledge about languages spoken

Unsuccessful strategies in working with
parents
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Teacher In-Service Training
Goals:

Increase participation and access

Empowerment and social integration
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Reduce the risk of segregation
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Improve learning outcomes

Improve teacher-parent collaboration
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Teacher In-Service Training
Process:

Reflection on own social/ cultural background;
stereotypes and prejudices

Understand meaning of cultural and language
differences
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Understand relevance of systemic and structural
factors

Develop more inclusive/ intercultural curricula
and pedagogy

Collaboration with Roma teachers/ assistants
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Empirical evidence on outcomes –
Knowledge and Insights gained

Focus on inter-relations instead of culture of „the
other“
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Understand diffent values, norms, customs
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Learn to use gate-keepers to get access to
Roma families
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Don‘t rely on parents‘ help with homework
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No written notices to parents
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Inquire about language use and competencies
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Empirical evidence on outcomes –
Practical implementation
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Use school materials and literature on Roma
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Poems and songs in Romanes
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Visit exhibts on Roma history and daily life
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Discussing stereotypes and prejudices
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Teacher-parent conferences with help of Roma
native language teacher
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Collaboration with after-school programmes
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Schukar Di!
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