Report paints grim picture on Czech social exclusion, education reform seen
as main hope
A report is heading towards the government which presents a gloomy picture
of the country’s success over the last five years in trying to lift its
worst off and most isolated members of society out of the plight they are
in. These are often a mixture of inadequate education, bleak job prospects,
and poor living conditions and housing. For the Roma minority, who are
often among what is termed the socially excluded, there is also the added
element of discrimination.
Martin Šimáček is director of the government’s Agency for Social
Inclusion, the main body for dealing with the problem. I asked him far the
social inclusion policy over the last five years had failed to meet its
goals.
“In the strategy, there are more than 70 different measures to support
social inclusion in all the immediate areas beginning with education,
employment, and housing conditions. And I have to say that less than half
the measures were really fulfilled. So the state policies to support social
inclusion are not as efficient as we need.”
Given that, what conclusions have been drawn and what needs to be changed?
“First of all I have to say that social inclusion really needs political
support. So, that is the first key thing. We can see with this government
it is better than before. So for the next period, 2015-2020, we can expect
a bit of a different approach from the government to the questions of
social inclusion, especially from the side of the Ministry of Social
Affairs where the minister [Michaela] Marksová is very prepared to support
us.”
Can you be a bit more specific in what areas you might expect more
support, presumably education, training, and housing conditions where some
of the housing is basically sub-standard?
“These two areas are crucial. First of all, education, we have had a
huge discussion about inclusive education during the last five years. After
this discussion we are now expecting a new schools act, which after
government discussion, is now in parliament. And we are awaiting the
results from parliament. And this could the first key point for the future.
And now a key point is whether support for children for children with
special needs will be individualised. That is if every single child will
get individual support for its education. We really need to change the
approach and not have segregation in Czech schools but have individual
integration in the mainstream schools. And the first step for that is the
new school act. And as well as that what is important is changes in
pre-school preparation and more capacity for pre-school s to support
children with special needs in pre-school education.
So how optimistic are you? The previous report, in a nutshell, says that
the policies have not worked…
“I am not sure that I can say I am really optimistic because I have to
be realistic. I know that policies to support social inclusion are not that
popular. We have to see that the mainstream is not really supporting the
inclusion of Roma people in society. And, also, this is not just a question
for government but also one for regional and local authorities which have
to be prepared to make some changes.”
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