Roma Children and Early Childhood Education: A Story of Discrimination

This chapter aims to contextualize the special circumstances of Roma children’s early education and support needs, with particular reference to the high level of exclusion experienced by members of the communities in Central and Eastern Europe. It presents the impact on households of the social determinants of health which potentially affect child development and well-being. Regardless of ethnicity, the lack of early childhood education leads to serious problems in terms of subsequent educational attainment. In the case of Roma children throughout Central and Eastern Europe this challenge is accentuated by a range of issues, including language, segregation, exclusion and outright racism. Cultural stigmatization has historically led to deep suspicions regarding public bodies and public education on the part of Roma parents, who are themselves likely to have been on the receiving end of discrimination and a poor-quality education. Throughout Europe Roma children are severely under-represented in educational statistics and families frequently report discrimination at all stages of the school system.

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