A new report by Equality, a leading UK charity working with Roma who migrated to the UK, analyses the impact of mainstream education in the UK on Roma pupils who had previously studied at de facto or special schools in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. 

Between March and September 2011, Equality carried out research among Roma of Czech and Slovak nationality who had migrated with their families to Leicester, Chatham, Rotherham, Wolverhampton, Southend-on-Sea, Peterborough, London and Derby between March and September 2011. The research found that 85% of the pupils interviewed had been previously placed in a special school, de facto segregated school or predominantly Roma kindergarten in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This is despite the European Court of Human Rights finding in 2007 in the case of D.H. and others versus the Czech Republic that ‘the disproportionate assignment of Roma children to special schools without an objective and reasonable justification amounted to unlawful indirect discrimination in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights’.

Education practitioners in Eastern European countries have argued for years that segregated or special education is in the best interests of Roma children. Equality’s research on the impact of mainstream education shows this is not the case: the average attainment of Roma pupils in numeracy, literacy and science was just below average. The research also found that the more the Roma pupils were integrated within classes and schools, the fewer community cohesion problems existed both in and out of school. This contrasts sharply with the view of the majority of Roma students that they had experienced racist bullying and verbal abuse by non-Roma peers, as well as discriminatory treatment by teachers, at Czech and Slovak schools.

All of the Roma parents interviewed valued the absence of discrimination and racism in the school system in the UK. All of them believed their children’s chances to succeed later on in life were much better in a mainstream school. One parent, originally from the Czech Republic, said “I was sent to special school. Now I can see that we were not given the same chances as non-Roma children and I want better for my kids who are bright”.

For further information and to read the report click here

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has brought a case challenging two of the   housing benefit changes introduced by the government which came into force from April 2011.  These are:

• Rules which reduce the maximum size of a dwelling which can be paid for by housing benefit to 4 bedrooms.
  
• Cap on LHA rates payable for each category of property wherever the property is situated in the country.
  

A judiciary review is scheduled to be heard by the end of July 2011 

For more on this development click here

EAPN Europe has produced an assessment of the European Commission country-specific Recommendations focus on reducing deficits, which will lead to cutting public services and wages, and increasing retirement ages.

In early June the Commission adopted 27 country-specific Recommendations evaluating the National Reform Programmes of EU member states, and their Stability and Convergence Programmes.

EAPN expected the Recommendations to include a clear focus on addressing the target to reduce poverty by at least 20 million by 2020.

Click here to read EAPN's report

The 10^th European Meeting of People experiencing poverty took place in Brussels in May 2011.  EAPN England took part in the event, preparing and organising delegates from the UK to the Meeting.

The Hungarian Presidency of the EU has now issued a two-page report to the European Council on the 10^th European Meeting of People experiencing poverty.

The XXII General Assembly of the European Anti‐Poverty Network (EAPN) was held in June in Lisbon. The theme of the event: ‘Europe needs a New Heart’ was a strong message conveyed to European leaders from The General Assembly which took place amidst growing anger at the failure of the EU and Member State Governments to adopt solidarity measures to protect people rather than markets in response to the current crisis.  The delegates warned that Europe will not have the support of its citizens, if it is seen to be undermining the foundations of the ‘Welfare States’.

For more on the event including the Final Declaration and EAPN’s letter to Prime Ministers ahead of their June Council click here.

The European Commission is looking for nominations of NGO representatives from all 27 EU member states to the Jury of the EU Journalist Together against Discrimination Award. The EU Journalist Award, now in its 8^th year, is the only Journalism competition for print and online journalists focused on discrimination and diversity issues in the EU. The Jury:

The jury needs 2 names (1 + 1 back up) for the NGO representative for each national jury (all 27 EU member states). The final list will be approved by the Commission. 

The 27 national juries will be made up of a maximum 5 people: 2-3 journalists; 1 representative from an NGO; one representative from the national Equality body. Every jury will be chaired by the Commission. 

The deadline for proposals is 11 July 2011 and should be emailed to Ewa.Musialowska@ketchumpleon.com 

For background information to the Award click here