Roma discrimination crackdown in Czech schools

Czech schools will now face infringement proceedings if they are found to flout anti-discrimination laws against Roma children.

The European Commission announced its decision to initiate such proceedings last month, in line with European Union race equality laws.

This responds to widespread discrimination against Roma children in the Czech Republic, through segregation into schools for pupils with mild disabilities, Roma-only schools, or classes offering lower educational standards.

Our author Martin Kahanec has written extensively about the Roma population in Europe, as it is one of the most disadvantaged ethnic minorities in the continent. He observes a vicious cycle of negative attitudes and perceptions, which leads to discrimination and segmentation.

This is exacerbated by substandard socio-economic outcomes, which are perpetuated across generations due to poorer household resources. Paul J. Devereux also highlights this link between parental education and children’s attainment.

Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office Nicolas J. Beger said: "Discrimination through segregated education is unlawful. It leads to poorer education and limits future employment opportunities, trapping Romani children in a vicious cycle of marginalization and exclusion."

Kahanec also advocates developing policies which aim to close the human capital gap between Roma and non-Roma populations, but notes that unequal treatment may still affect labor market outcomes. However, his evidence-based research suggests that large-scale policy intervention may raise awareness of the importance of integration, which could then work to alter perceptions.

Related article:
Roma integration in European labor markets, by Martin Kahanec
Intergenerational return to human capital, by Paul J. Devereux