Newindpress.com
LONDON, UK, August 26, 2003: There are about 42,000 Gypsy children in British schools, and education authorities have now realized that the education system has largely ignored their special needs. Historically the Gypsies began their journey from the Indus valley in northern India, travelled through Persia, and reached Hungary and other parts of eastern Europe about 1,000 years ago. They are thought to have arrived on English soil about 400 years ago. Their language, known as Romany, is recognizable, but not entirely intelligible, to a Hindi-speaking person. In official records they are known as Romany Gypsies, one of the smallest communities among Britain’s ethnic minority population dominated by Asians and Afro-Caribbeans. Britain has ensured that cultures of ethnic minority groups are well catered for in the education system, particularly those of the Asian communities speaking Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali. However, now education authorities have realized that the policy has largely failed to cater to the cultural needs of Romany Gypsy children. They rarely receive specialist support nor is their culture recognized in the curriculum. Schools Minister Stephen Twigg stated: “Gypsy traveller pupils present many challenges for schools. There are issues of racism, discrimination, stereotyping and a need for better links between parents and teachers. Schools must overcome these challenges and make sure that the pupils get as good an education as everyone else.”