Education is the best tool that we can use in order to make sure that racism and discrimination will no longer lead to Holocaust, genocide, and other hate crimes in the name of ideologies that place one race above the others. Unfortunately, when it comes to Roma history, formal education systems, especially those in South-Eastern Europe, still portray Roma ethnics in a stereotypical and discriminatory manner in their curricula and textbooks.
The role of education in combating discrimination and racism was one of the topics that were discussed during the “European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day”, an event organized on 2 August by The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture Serbia, the Roma Education Fund and Opre Roma Serbia.
“The key in today’s formal education systems is to remove inappropriate stereotypical and discriminatory content in teaching units and in all textbooks, to introduce elements from Roma history, language and culture in all subjects for all students regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or any other affiliation, and continuously work on the education and sensitization of the teaching staff “, Redjepali Chupi, co-director REF.
He added that REF together with ERIAC raised this topic to the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Mr. Ruzic, and received an encouraging response. Mr. Ruzic declared his willingness to work together with the two organizations on issues related to curricula and textbooks, as well as the representation of Roma history, language and culture in the teaching content.
“We need to move further with stronger efforts to contribute to the improvement of conditions and opportunities for education of Roma at all levels of education “, Mr. Chupi concluded.
The event program:
📌 The screening of the documentary directed by Ljuan Koka “And you, God, survive”
📌 Panel discussion – “Roma Remember – Remembering the Holocaust”
Panel participants:
📍 Ljuan Koka – documentary author
📍 Bayram Haliti – romologist and expert in Holocaust over Roma
📍 Milovan Pisari – historical researcher and Holocaust expert
📍 Jelena Krivokapic – lawyer and activist of the Oprah Roma Serbia movement
📍 Redjepali Chupi – co-director of Roma Education Fund
