Call to end Travellers' educational 'segregation'

The segregation of Traveller children in the education system must be stopped, a report said today.

The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia found that Traveller and Roma children are grossly disadvantaged by the practice in states across the EU.

Its chairwoman Anastasia Crickley said the report showed urgent action was needed to integrate Travellers into the mainstream education system.

“The level of participation of Roma and Traveller children is far too low to successfully allow them to compete with others for jobs and to participate fully in society,” she said.

Many Traveller students leave secondary school to attend one of the 33 Traveller training centres centres around the country which teach a variety of academic and practical subjects to Travellers aged over 15.

Ms Crickley, who is also the chairwoman of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), said segregated education was not the answer.

“That’s recognised in most of the EU but the practise still needs to be moved along.”

Around two-thirds of Travellers had left school by the age of 15, according to figures released in 2002. Just 6% of people of working age in the Traveller community have a Leaving Certificate, compared with 60% of people of working age in the rest of the population.

Ms Crickely said an increase in the number of Travellers completing second level education was the only way to increase their participation at third level.

“You need Travellers to feel welcome at second level. Special initiatives are required and in particular, clear time-limited targets.

“I hope this report can support and reinforce the National Education Strategy which the Department of Education has been working on alongside Traveller organisations,” she said.