Children and school · Christian Roma Mission

Numbers

From kindergarten to secondary school.

The ministry's figures are for the school year 2018/19. The report of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights came out in 2022; the figure on secondary school in it, for Slovakia, is from a survey in 2020.

3 to 5

Kindergarten

32 % of children from marginalised Roma communities go to kindergarten. Of all children in Slovakia, 75 %.

Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, 2020, p. 57

6 to 15

Primary school

19,2 % of pupils from these communities are taught in special schools. Of all pupils, 5,7 %. In Slovakia, 65 % of Roma children aged 6 to 15 are in segregated schools.

Slovak Ministry of Finance, 2020, p. 65 · EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2022, p. 16

After 16

After compulsory schooling

51 % of pupils from these communities carry on at school. Of all pupils, 75 %.

Slovak Ministry of Finance, 2020, p. 78

20 to 24

Finished secondary school

28 % of young Roma in Slovakia have finished it. In the whole population, 90 %.

EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2022, p. 38

What the numbers mean

The way to school is longer for a child from a Roma settlement.

School is often far away.85 % of settlements have a kindergarten within two kilometres, and 57 % have the upper grades of primary school. Of those lying outside the village, barely 39 %. One in five has a secondary school nearby. Atlas rómskych komunít 2019, pp. 76 and 78

The gap shows already at the start of school.Children from excluded communities can already be far behind their peers when they start primary school, and the gap can grow with time. This is how Cesta von writes about research for ETP Slovensko. cestavon.sk, as of 12. 10. 2026

At home they often speak Romani.In 47 % of communities, Romani is the most used language, especially in central and eastern Slovakia. Atlas rómskych komunít 2019, p. 17

An average is not a child.These are all averages for Slovakia. They say nothing about what one child can do when someone gives that child their time.

With us · our experience, not a study

The beginnings are not easy.

At home there is nowhere to study.A child often has no pen or paper at home, and no chair and table to study at.

Parents cannot help.Many parents cannot read well.

Sees no reason.All around, the child sees no reason to learn a lot.

Food.Children are often not taught to eat everything. In church we call that fussiness.

Getting up.Sometimes they don't feel like getting up. We call that laziness.

Children learning at tables, Mútnik 2023

What we do about it

We teach children from the age of six.

First play, then reading, writing and counting. The older ones we teach a trade in workshops. Before us, with the youngest, are the omamas; after us, scholarships and a home of their own.

What we do, one thing at a time Who helps at which age

200 children have learned to read and write with us. In Markovce, Klenovec and Kačanov, Sunday school has been running regularly for more than a year. In February 2022, 8 to 20 children came to lessons in Klenovec on Tuesday and 13 to 20 on Sunday, from first-graders to ninth-graders. In Markovce, 30 to 40 children come regularly to the parish activities (June 2026). pravoslaviemarkovce.sk, 12. 6. 2026 romamission.eu, Mission Fr. Martin's book, 2023, pp. 37 and 78

Fundraiser on Donio · until 14 December

Laďo learned to read. Let us help other children.

At the parish house in Markovce we built an outdoor classroom. Since April, children have been reading and writing in it for free. We built it on a loan, and 20 641 € is still left to repay.

Give through Donio → The fundraiser is run by the parish of Markovce. Donio passes on the whole amount without fees. Film: Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child.

Get Involved

We are looking for volunteers.

To teach and play with Roma children in central and eastern Slovakia. The first two years in the community are mostly games, and little by little there is more and more teaching.

We use Christian materials. If that would go against your conscience, get in touch with us anyway.

I want to get involved

Children from Roma settlements and school. What the numbers say and what we do about it.