INTEGRATING ROMA CHILDREN IN BRŠLJIN PRIMARY SCHOOL

V teoretičnem delu diplomskega dela Vključevanje Romov v Osnovno šolo Bršljin Novo mesto je predstavljen položaj Romov v novomeški občini, njihov način življenja in kultura ter težave romskih učencev, ki predstavljajo 21 % učencev te šole. Občina se trudi, da bi situacijo izboljšala, zato je leta 2013 takratni župan Alojzij Muhič s pomočjo članov komisije pripravil dokument z naslovom Strategija reševanja romske tematike v Mestni občini Novo mesto za obdobje 2013 - 2020, ki se v več točkah dotika tega problema. Stremijo k vključevanju romskih otrok v vrtce, da bi tam pridobili osnovno znanje slovenskega jezika in se navajali na spoštovanje pravil in osebno higieno. Predlagajo pa tudi prerazporeditev romskih učencev po ostalih novomeških osnovnih šolah. V empiričnem delu so predstavljena mnenja učiteljev, zaposlenih na OŠ Bršljin, ki se vsakodnevno srečujejo z romskimi učenci. Prikazano je, kaj menijo o znanju slovenskega jezika romskih učencev in kako njihovo nerazumevanje jezika otežuje napredek v šoli, kakšni so odnosi med romskimi učenci in ostalimi. Predstavljeni so rezultati raziskave, ali se romski učenci čutijo sprejete v družbo, kakšni so ekonomski status in bivanjske razmere romskih učencev, kakšno je vključevanju staršev romskih učencev v proces izobraževanja, kakšna so prizadevanja učiteljev za bolj uspešno delo z romskimi učenci. Pri tem je pozornost namenjena razlikam med mnenji učiteljev glede na triado, v kateri poučujejo. Ugotovljeno je, da nastajajo težave zaradi nerazumevanja slovenskega jezika, da se starši redko ali sploh ne udeležujejo govorilnih ur ter ostalih šolskih dejavnosti, da so romski učenci pogosto neopravičeno odsotni od pouka, doma pa nimajo primernih pogojev za učenje. Odnosi med romskimi in ostalimi učenci so načeloma dobri, učitelji pa se z različnimi pristopi trudijo, da bi jim približali učno snov.In the theoretical part of the thesis titled The integration of the Roma population into Bršljin elementary school we present the situation of the Roma people in the municipality of Novo mesto, their way of life and their culture, as well as discuss the issues of Roma pupils, who represent 21% of all students from the aforementioned school. The municipality strives to improve the situation, which is why in 2013 the then mayor, Alojzij Muhič, with the help of committee members composed a document titled A strategy of solving the topic of the Roma in the municipality of Novo mesto for the period 2013 – 2020, which pertains to the issue at several points. They aim to integrate Roma children into kindergartens, so they would gain basic knowledge of Slovenian and get accustomed to following rules and practicing good hygiene. They also propose a reallocation of Romani pupils to other elementary schools in Novo mesto. In the empirical part of the research we asked the teachers from Bršljin elementary school for their opinions, as they are in contact with the Romani pupils on a daily basis. We were interested in their thoughts on the Roma pupils\u27 knowledge of Slovenian and how it affects their progress in school. We also inquired about the relationships between Roma pupils and their schoolmates, whether Roma children feel they are accepted in society, about their economic status and living conditions, the involvement of their parents in the educational process and lastly about the teachers\u27 efforts and additional approaches necessary in working with Roma pupils. In doing so we were mindful of the differences among teachers based on the triad they teach in. We have concluded that problems arise because of the difficulties in the understanding of Slovenian language, the parents do not attend or infrequently attend parent-teacher meetings or other activities, Roma pupils are often absent from school without permission and at home do not have adequate conditions to study. The relationships between the Roma and other pupils are generally good, and the teachers strive to bring the subject matter closer to the pupils using different approaches