Search
Search Results
-
Perceptions of University Students on the Role of Roma Student Societies in Higher Education
97-114Views:163As a result of the expansion of higher education, the student population is becoming more diversified, with students who are the first in their families and communities to undertake a university degree. Minorities defined as Roma have been an integral part of Europe since the Middle Ages, but their educational attainment lags behind the general population, and they are still under-represented in higher education. The study analyses the perceptions of mostly Roma students who are on the path of social mobility in their formal education and the non-formal community (Roma student societies) that provides targeted support for their academic progress. The study involved the members of the network of Roma student societies in Hungarian universities in questionnaire format research (N=300, n=182). In this study, the implicit ideas of the participants about the university and the Roma student societies are inquired into, exploring the similarities and differences in the function of the two institutions, and analysing the role of the Roma student society in social mobility. The data were processed using a qualitative analysis strategy, thematic coding. The results shed light on the functions of the university, which is a formal space, and the Roma student society, which is a non-formal socialization space. The university was associated with formal learning and socialisation, while the Roma student society was associated with experiential, action-oriented, non-formal space. The respondents perceived the university, but especially the student society, as a positive experience. Our study reveals the perceptions of the pedagogical programme of the Roma student societies. The Roma student society is compared to the relationships experienced in a family; the Roma student society is seen as a continuum of the sense of security provided by the family. Through the responses of Roma students, this study highlights that non-formal small communities in universities are effective means for the successful advancement of underrepresented groups in higher education, which supports a positive experience of their mobility.
-
STUDENTS FROM ROMA COLLEGES FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IN HAJDÚ-BIHAR COUNTY
41-60Views:388The main objective of the paper is to present students who are members of those kinds of Roma Colleges for Advanced Studies which headquarters can be found in Debrecen. The frame of the study is in connection with research that has been carried out in 2019 and dealt with three Colleges for Advanced Studies with 62 students. The relevance of the topic is given by the fact that by comparing Roma and non-Roma students’ ratio in tertiary education, we can recognize the phenomenon that the proportion of Roma students is still lower. We sought an answer to the question of what factors helped Roma students to achieve success in school. The research questionnaire assessed students’ socio-cultural background, learning motivation, high school experiences, and the ethnic patterns of networks. The theoretical framework of the empirical results is the outcome of the sociological researches that focus on Hungarian Roma children’s educational situation. These were supplemented by the description of the development programs. In the course of analysis, we compare the obtained data with the database of the Hungarian Youth 2016, as a consequence that, we get an idea of the groups of Roma youth for whom tertiary education has become available. One of our research targets includes the comparison of students with or without Roma identity.
-
ROMA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' IDEAS ON THE CHOICE OF PARTNERS:
Views:436Finding the right partner can improve the individual’s financial situation, help him/her achieve his/her goals, and support his/her mental health. It may also have an impact on the integration of Roma partners into the majority of society. Roma young people studying in higher education may have different options of choosing a partner than their (Roma) lower-educated peers. The cost of further education is often the lack of early marriage, which is common in the traditional Roma community, while the benefit can be the development of a wider network of contacts by getting to know university colleagues. In our research, we examined the choice of a partner of a special group of Roma university students, the Roma college students concerning their ideas about this and their practical implementation. The study is based on the EVS (European Value Survey) questionnaire on relationships filled in by the respondents and structured life path interviews (N=186). Based on the survey, the college students included in the study did not consider the origin of their partner to be relevant, while in practice they preferred a similar partner related to the origin and education. The Roma college can also function as a field for choosing partners, and many of the students have chosen their partners from here. In Roma colleges, students are placed in a peer community that supports them through further education. Among their peers, they can even find a partner who is similar to them not only in his/her origin but also in his/her education.
-
The Analysis of Early School Leaving from the Aspect of Inter-Sectionality
19-33Views:374Hungary ranks in the bottom third of the European Union regarding early school leaving, falling further and further away from the EU average year on year. The lower educational attainment and higher drop-out rates of Roma/Gypsy youth have been confirmed by several studies. Still, the descriptions are often two-dimensional, as in international approaches. The Hungarian Youth 2020 database allowed for a wider range of explanatory variables in the analysis. In our study, we examine the educational attainment of Roma youth aged 20-29 and then compare subsamples of Roma and non-Roma dropouts. Finally, we run a binary regression model on the database with early school leaving as the dependent variable and explanatory variables as background variables that may shape the odds of early school leaving. The social and economic backgrounds of Roma and non-Roma ESL learners differed, while parental education and subjective financial situation showed a less favourable pattern for Roma. The effect of Roma identity was significant in the regression model, but the explanatory power did not reach the effect of lower parental education. In other words, ethnic background is a crucial factor in dropout, while some segments of the family background are more significant.
-
COMPARISON OF THE FAMILIARITY OF GRADE 4 ROMA AND NON-ROMA SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH SOME BIOLOGICAL TERMS IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
47-60Views:265Most of the Roma settlements in Croatia are spatially segregated from the settlements of the majority population. Specific cultural elements constitute the ethnic border towards the local population, making it difficult and reducing the possibility of their integration into the majority population. One of the results of that segregation is the unfamiliarity of the Roma children with the language of the majority population. This unfamiliarity with the Croatian language is a big obstacle for the integration of the Roma children into Croatian society through school education. Starting from Grade 1 they follow the regular school curriculum. Two of the subjects that are taught from the very beginning of their primary school education are Natural Science and English as a foreign language. In this paper, the authors present the results (statistical analysis and discussion) of their research study. It compares the familiarity of Roma and Non-Roma Grade 4 children (age 10) with some biological terms in English as a foreign language. Based on the results of their research, the authors suggest modifications of the school curriculum for Roma children that would enable their better school achievement and subsequently their easier integration into Croatian society.
-
Educational Policy Responses to Support Roma Students
113-121Views:44This study examines Hungarian educational policy measures implemented between 2015 and 2025 to improve the academic success of Roma students. Education is viewed not only as a means of knowledge transmission but as a key driver of social mobility and equality. Roma students face complex challenges rooted in social disadvantage, cultural differences, and systemic issues such as segregation and institutional discrimination. The paper provides an overview of major interventions, including compulsory early childhood education, the Complex Instruction Programme (CIP), community-based tanoda initiatives, the Útravaló Scholarship Programme, and Roma Special Colleges. While these programmes have yielded positive local outcomes—such as improved cooperation, reduced dropout rates, and enhanced access to higher education—their long-term impact is limited by underfunding, project-based approaches, and lack of systemic integration. The study adopts a critical perspective, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies, teacher training in inclusive pedagogy, community involvement, and comprehensive monitoring systems. Recommendations include strengthening teacher education, promoting integrated social support, and ensuring Roma participation in decision-making. The findings underscore that only systemic, long-term measures can effectively reduce educational inequalities and foster genuine social inclusion for Roma communities.
-
COOPERATION OF ROMA COLLEGES FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IN HAJDÚ-BIHAR COUNTY WITH SECONDARY SCHOOLS
27-41Views:216The main objective of the paper is to present students who are members of those kinds of Roma Colleges for Advanced Studies which headquarters can be found in Debrecen. This is framed by a 2019 research that consisted of three parts. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of the students of the three Roma Colleges for Advanced Studies operating in Hajdú Bihar county, an interview with the leaders of the three Colleges for Advanced Studies, and concerning the student questionnaire survey, we visited the high schools from which two or more students came to the Colleges for Advanced Studies, as such interviews were carried out with nine school principals and six mayors. In this study, we present interviews conducted by the school principals. Where it is possible, we rely on the responses received in each part of the research – we compare and analyze them. We primarily sought the answer to the question of how Roma Colleges for Advanced Studies help Roma students to be admitted in tertiary education. Based on the answers received, it can be claimed that the Colleges strive to keep in touch with the secondary schools, and in some cases, they involve students and their teachers in the programs organized by them. There is no program that specifically aims to help secondary students concerning the admission of tertiary education The Colleges for Advanced Studies help roma students mainly by providing information. They try to dispense the information through the personal involvement of the students.
-
ROMA COLLEGES FOR ADVANCED STUDIES NETWORK IN HUNGARY
7-15Views:519Roma colleges for advanced studies network in Hungary is a unique chain of institutions for helping those students’ integration into the system of higher education whose sociocultural background might be characterized by deprivation. Recent study analyses the history as well as the networking process of Roma colleges and the paper endeavours to interpret the features of collegiate students’ dwelling-places. In the second part, the author deals with the significance of Roma collegiate students’ fields of study related to the debate coursing on the integration policy of marginalized and peripheral local ethnic communities in Hungary.
-
CHARACTERSITICS OF ROMA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BASED ON SAMPLES FROM ROMA COLLEGES FOR ADVANCED STUDIES
43-59Views:315The study intends to present in a comparative manner the research conducted at the University of Pécs and the Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, which focuses on the family background, identity, school-related successes and failures of Roma students studying in tertiary education. The research was supplemented with information collected from the students of the Lippai Balázs Roma College for Advanced Studies at the University of Debrecen Faculty of Education for Children and Special Educational Needs.
-
SOCIOCULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROMA COMMUNITY OF TISZABERCEL AND PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR RELATED TO SCHOOLING
133-149Views:241The current paper intends to present the empirical results related to one element of a complex pedagogical anthropological research. In the course of our research, we analyzed how the educational characteristics of Roma families in the Romungro community of Tiszabercel interact with other factors influencing school progress. We tried to map the extent to which certain sociocultural factors (educational level, workplace, housing conditions, gender and age) influence parents' attitudes towards school. Regarding the methodological apparatus of our research, we relied on qualitative research methods. In addition to field research and participant observation, we conducted semi-structured interviews (n=12) with parents belonging to the local Roma community.
-
GIPSY CHILDREN AT THE DEBRECEN FOOTBALL ACADEMY–RESULTS OF A QUALITATIVE STUDY
39-50Views:281One of the aims of the present study is to briefly outline the issues related to gipsy and sportsmen in the literature, and to interpret the main challenges and potential barriers that arise in this context (Bailey, 2005; Sütő-Gabóda, 2013; Kovács, 2016; Faragó and Konczosné, 2017). We also aim to review the most important contexts related to the social background of athletes and, more narrowly, football academics as a possible option for breakout opportunities, based on the football academy system that has been operating in Hungary since 2001 (Rábai, 2021), and to examine specifically how the Debrecen Football Academy can help young people of gipsy origin to break out. The focus of our study is qualitative research, during which we interviewed the leaders of the Debrecen Football Academy in order to get answers to our questions about the gipsy children in the academy. During the interviews, the interviewees provide an overview of the recruitment, social background and typical career paths of gipsy children who have attended the academy so far, as well as a general discussion of their situation and opportunities. Based on our results, the children studying and developing at the football academies have a stable social background, and the Debrecen Football Academy also offers scholarship-like support opportunities that can help children from lower social status in the institution receive significant support. Academy leaders emphasized during the interviews that, although gipsy children often drop out of education, they have a number of successful careers behind them, suggesting that they too have every opportunity to break through the academy. Interviewees also said that they do their best to support gipsy children so that no one is disadvantaged because of economic or social deprivation.
-
TEACHER’S PERCEPTION ABOUT THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE OF ROMA STUDENTS
139-146Views:176The current paper aims to shed light on the problem of Roma students' school performance through the perception of teachers. We examine the phenomenon at the level of locality, relying on qualitative research methodology. The empirical data collection was carried out at the István Király Baptist Primary School in Kótaj, in the county of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, during which semi-structured interviews were recorded (N=15).
-
CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL PROCESSES OF NAGYECSED, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO THE SITUATION OF THE ROMA POPULATION
45-57Views:288Our research carried out in Nagyecsed is part of a longer series of research consisting of ten items, in which we primarily seek to map the main social characteristics and current social processes of settlements with the lower populations in the less-favoured regions of the country. In the course of the research, our goal is basically to get to know and present the perspectives of the local residents. A crucial consideration in the selection of the research sites was that smaller settlements in these peripheral regions are experiencing rather unfavourable socio-demographic trends, including in particular the declining population, aging, and the growing proportion of disadvantaged populations, including disadvantaged Roma. These processes - if no significant changes take place - project an even more unfavourable vision than at present. The unfavourable socio-demographic tendencies can be clearly seen in Nagyecsed. In connection with this, the main goal of the research is to explore the situation of the Roma, as well as the local community relations, especially the coexistence characteristics of the Roma and non-Roma population.
-
A Well-Being Study of Families Raising Young Children in the Roma Segregated Area of Hajdúböszörmény
19-32Views:207As part of a grant-funded inclusion program, we conducted a lifestyle survey and needs assessment among 241 individuals of Roma identity in Hajdúböszörmény. This study included the WHO’s five-item well-being questionnaire. The study also provides an overview of well-being research in Hungary. Based on our research findings, we believe patterns from previous generations for families raising young children can be a source of strength, even in role model selection. In contrast, for families not currently raising young children, a sense of trust in the future can contribute to higher well-being levels among those living in segregated areas. We found that raising young children is generally associated with a higher level of well-being, which can be further reinforced by younger age, higher educational attainment, stable work income with optimal workload, and the location of the residence. We emphasize that promoting well-being requires a holistic approach, broad social cooperation, and a more equitable system that balances opportunities. Our research helps to understand the multifaceted nature of well-being, contributing to the identification of challenges and the search for solutions.
-
THE ISSUE OF FAILURE OF ROMA STUDENTS AT SCHOOL
95-102Views:367The phenomenon can be encountered day by day that at primary schools there are just a few Roma children among well-performing students, while among students who fail in fulfilling the requirements there are a great amount of Roma pupils. The question may come to the surface intuitively: What are the reasons behind that? The paper aims to discover and explain this problem relying on the relevant literature.
-
SETTLEMENT AND SCHOOL: LOCAL EXPERIENCES OF AN INTEGRATION PROGRAM - CASE STUDY
19-39Views:328Efforts to eradicate Roma settlements in Hungary the EFOP-1.6.2 project provided resources for small settlements for the resolution and elimination of segregated life situations in the 2013-2020 EU programming period. The program provides opportunities for local needs-based developments through a complex intervention system in the settlements. One of the keys to the success of the programs may be the development and operation of local collaborations. In the study, we examined how previous educational integration practices related to the segregation program in a settlement.
-
THE PLACE OF THE KINDERGARTEN WITH THE HUNGARIAN-SPEAKING ROMA/GYPSY CULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE SYSTEM OF NATIONALITY EDUCATION
159-162Views:225The place of the kindergarten with the Hungarian-speaking roma/gypsy cultural education in the system of nationality education - workshop
-
The Impact of Cultural Heritage on Coexistence Relations in a Local Community
175-184Views:183The analysis of community processes in peripheral local rural societies is usually described in terms of assimilation, integration and segregation. The basic motivation for the research presented in this paper was that, in my experience, the integration processes of the largest ethnic minority in Hungary can only be fully comprehended if the autonomous narratives of local communities concerning their own life situations are acknowledged as interpretations that underpin our conclusions. A field study was conducted using ethnographic and anthropological methods in two settlements in Hajdú-Bihar County. The aim was to investigate the impact of the structure of the Gypsy subcommunity's traditional heritage, its recurrent functions and the emerging revival processes on coexistence. I was looking for an answer to the question whether the traditional practices of the Roma, the use of language, the set of customs, the ethnic norms help or hinder social integration. This paper presents the results and conclusions of a research conducted in one of the settlements, in Nagyrábé. The objective of the research was to identify the factors that influence the social acceptance of local Roma communities and examine their relation to the quality of the preservation of ethnic traditions.
-
Roma-Hungarian Coexistence Experiences in a Kindergarten Environment in the Municipality of Vasmegyer
187-189Views:102Workshop presentation - Roma-Hungarian Coexistence Experiences in a Kindergarten Environment in the Municipality of Vasmegyer
-
THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL MOBILITY: AN EXAMPLE FROM HODÁSZ
Views:238The paper examines the social mobility process of Romani youngsters in a settlement that is in one of the most disadvantaged regions of Hungary. Hodász became the centre of interest due to the relevant research concerning the mobility issue, because here, just contrary to the communities have similar sociocultural features, there are number of young Romani who could stand out by learning. The author interprets in wider aspects the determinative local norms, and the scale of values of local Vlach Romani community make possible for lots of local youngsters, that they can be graduated. In the second part of the paper the reader can understand the intellectual career by three studies, and consequently the social integration doesn’t automatically yield social mobility. In the situational analyses of Hodász example can be circumscribed the specific preconditions of intellectual career in the case of the young Romani and disadvantageous.
-
Determination and Prejudice: the Challenges of Integration for People of Roma Origin
139-149Views:40In this study, the determinative effects of prejudice-based disadvantage factors frequently emphasised in relation to Roma living in Hungary are analysed. For this purpose, the individual life stories of protagonists appearing in documentary films produced in the AntRom Filmműhely (University of Debrecen), as well as the analysis of community processes observed in various local societies, are utilised. The aforementioned disadvantage factors (e.g. ethnic origin, gender, family and socio-cultural background, education, labour-market status, housing) are understood to shape, both individually and collectively, the expectations and future opportunities of the individuals concerned. The aim of the study is to make visible how, and under what conditions, a life different from the “expected” can be realised.
-
THE "INSTITUTIONALIZATION" OF THE LOVARI LANGUAGE FROM THE ASPECT OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
85-93Views:309In this current paper we intend to reflect upon the historicity and social impact of Lovari language education from the perspective of social innovation. Our starting point is that the process of the acceptance of the Lovari language and its recognition in the educational palette of foreign languages is a „bottom-up” initiative that developed mainly from the work of Romani intellectuals. The focus of our interest is, among others, the following questions: Who invented it? Who supported it? Who prevented it? What language learning methods are used by people teaching Lovari language who are originally not language teachers? The „institutionalization” of language education in Lovari and the state-recognized language exam certificate that can be obtained in this language have a serious social impact, for example, it helped disadvantaged and/or Roma students to obtain a university degree. From this point of view, we also consider this phenomenon as an innovation. Besides the secondary sources, we tend to map the topic with the help of primary, qualitative data. In addition to interviews with Lovari language teachers (N=3) who have been teaching for several decades, we would like to put our own perceptions in a narrative.
-
Survey of the Cognitive Competences about the Disadvantaged Preschool Children in the Counties Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg
125-133Views:218Between 2017-2020 I was a member in the project called „Opportunity Maker Kindergarten” (EFOP-3.1.3-16-2016-00001). It was organised by the National Educational Office. The purpose of this project is helping and supporting the kindergartens which are teaching and educating lots of disadvantaged (and roma) children. There was an important part of this work: taking an ability measurement by the kindergarten teachers. It was a special measurement, because we collected their judgements of some statement. In the study, we looked at children aged 5-7 years. The statements described the cognitive competences of children. Results were obtained in three categories (perception, thinking and imagination), in five dimensions per category, from the kindergartens participating in the project in the three selected counties. In the overall survey, kindergartens provided information on a total of 1,112 children, with the following numbers of responses in the three counties analysed: 259 in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, 178 in Hajdú-Bihar and 271 in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg. No significant difference was observed in the results: only in the category of perception and sensation did the data from Sablos score higher in several areas e.g. in the case of tactile and visual perception.
-
CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL PROCESSES IN HAJDÚDOROG
33-50Views:954Our research conducted in Hajdúdorog is a part of a longer, multiple part research series, in which we will identify the main social features and map the current social processes in the less populous settlements of the more deprived regions of the country in particular. Basically, the aim of our research is to understand and present the perspective of the local people. The decisive criterion for the selection of research sites was that the smaller settlements of these peripheral regions are subject to rather unfavorable socio-demographic processes, including in particular the decline in the population, aging, and the increase in the share of the disadvantaged populations. These processes – unless there are significant changes – project an even more unfavorable vision of the future. The adverse socio-demographic processes described above are definitely observable in Hajdúdorog. Related to this, the primary objective of the research was to understand the opportunities, goals, and vision of the local youth most affected by migration, as well as to recognize the local community relations and the characteristics of cohabitation of the Roma and non-Roma population in particular.
-
THE STATE OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN'S
77-88Views:941The study addresses the language problems of children with socio-cultural background problems. Children from the environment using a limited language code are more likely to start with a language disadvantage or language delay, and these ability deficits do not or only moderately decrease during the years of institutional education. In the presented pilot study, n = 20 people from Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, disadvantaged Gypsy / Roma children living in three villages and their parents were analyzed. In the study, the Parental Treatment Questionnaire (H-PBI, Gordon, 1979), the LAPP Active Vocabulary Survey (Lőrik et al., 2015), and the speech of children with delayed/impeded speech developed by Dr. Ágnes Juhász and Tiborné Bittera (1995) and its language development was examined. The results were interpreted according to the small sample on the basis of simple statistics, and the drawing of conclusions is also treated sparingly.