Inclusion of the Roma population Case study of Subotica, Serbia By Oszkár Szénási

Subotica, Serbia citizens 38% Hungarians 24% Serbians 11% Croats 11% Bunjevci Romas, Macedonians, Germans, Albanians,... 63% Catholics 26% Orthodox Christians Protestants, Jews, Muslims,...

The changes of 90’s Two large wave of refugees arrived to Subotica from: 1. Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina 2. Kosovo At the same time many local families left Subotica, mainly Hungarian intellectuals

Transition and results of the 90’s in Serbia From 1991 to 2000 the country suffered from civil war, isolation, sanctions, hyperinflation and NATO bombing Results: Devaluation of all civilization values Lack of confidence in state institutions Strong black market and black economy refugees form the ex Yugoslav Republics, primarily Serbs internally displaced Serbs from Kosovo

Transition and results of the 90’s in Serbia Results of the transition, comparing data from 2000 and 2003: Inflation from 113% to 8% Average salary 40 increased to 180 euros Average pension from 35 euros increased 4 times 919 enterprises were privatized until 2003

The situation today Poverty is still huge It is made even worse by the new world economic crisis Tension among people coming from lower classes is significant The largest part of the city’s social allocation determined by law barely covers the existential survival of the Kosovo Romas

The situation of Romas in Subotica The estimated number of Romas in Subotica is They have large families Illiteracy and functional analphabetism is not rare Many don’t have any identification Significant number of their children are not registered

Inclusion of the Romas In 2005 a Team for the inclusion of Roma children in the school system formed by the local government They involved experts and two Roma high school students From 2006 the 61% of Roma children between 7 and 14 were included in the school system

Inclusion of the Romas The national government supports the additional tuition of Roma children until the 4th grade of elementary school Many Roma children have difficulties in school and the number of drop-outs is high

Inclusion of the Romas In 2009 the Local government of Subotica is supporting the additional tuition of young Roma children in elementary schools in the 5th and 6th grade. The additional lessons concentrate on learning: Serbian language, learning methods and communicational skills.

Inclusion of the Romas The local government made an overall social strategy for the period The question of Romas is treated in a separate chapter Focus is on education There is a constant lack of finances for the realisation of the strategy and the action plans defined in it