By the opinion of the Consitutional Court reached yesterday, the decision to form separate classes with diminished programme of education for Roma children in Medjimurska County was justified since their knowledge of Croatian is poor. (09-FEB-07)

Written by Goran Milakovic/HRH Zagreb


Back in 2002 the Roma community accused the State for segregation and decided to question the constitutionality of this practice, by filing a formal complaint to the Constituional Court. After almost five years, the Court finally decided that the separation of Roma chidren was not ethnically or racially motivated. Since their poor knowledge of Croatian language prevented them from participating in regular classes, the decision to form special classes for them was justified, stands in the findings of the Court.

 

However, the Court finds the separation of children to be justified only in junior classses, while they are still learning the language. Later, in senior classes, the same practice is unjustified. -If we did not voice strong concerns, nothing would have changed. This way we at least know that the separation in senior classes was unjustified, said Zarko Puhovski, chairman of the CHC for the newsdaily Vecernji list.