The School Career and the Educational Exclusion of the Roma Children in Greece

Abstract

The school career of Roma children in Greece is inevitable connected with their social and educational exclusion from Greek society. The present article examines the main factors which affect the educational status of Roma children and presents a survey which was conducted in the area of Thessaloniki in northern Greece focusing on the school career of 117 Roma children. Following their educational course from primary to secondary school and high school, the survey highlights an extended school failure of Roma children, as there is still a large percentage of children not attending school or presenting poor attendance and leakage from the school system. The survey confirms that for school to become accessible, attractive and effective for children belonging to cultural, ethnic and social minority groups, specific characteristics of each group should be taken into account in the content of analytical school programs across the educational process.