Court Rules Against Unlawful Segregation of Roma in Hungary

The European Roma Rights Center released an email discussing a court ruling that upheld the illegality of segregating a group of Roma students in a public school. Damages paid were E 16,400 (with interest) to nine families.

The families were mostly Romani, but all were of low income and social standing. Their children were placed in classrooms for the "mentally deficient" with an unqualified student-teacher, ignoring their normal IQs and learning disabilities.

"In addition, the court held that the school had clearly failed to recognize and address the plaintiffs' learning difficulties and had instead chosen to administer an inferior curriculum which has jeopardized their future development. The court pointed out that on completing their studies the plaintiffs will suffer additional disadvantage in terms of diminished chances for further education as well as with regard to their employment opportunities compared to their peers schooled on the basis of the regular curriculum."

Bosnia and Herzegovina Implement Nine-Year Schooling Plan

Southeast European Times reports that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has started its ambitious program for nine-year schooling in the nation. This push to update the school system is in part being driven by the desire to meet education requirements for eventual EU membership.

One interesting issue is that in some areas Bosnian and Croat children are educated in separate schools--with different curricula and different resources. In fact, resistance to the plan comes from a few areas where Croats are in the majority of the population.