The Roma ethnic group in Slovakia numbers between 400,000 and 440,000 and is mostly resident in the eastern half of the country.

The Plenipotentiary for Romani Communities proposes, coordinates and monitors activities aimed at solving the problems of the Roma minority and, after approval by the Government of the Slovak Republic, implements systemic solutions to achieve equal status for citizens belonging to the Roma minority in society. The Plenipotentiary ensures respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the Slovak Republic, as well as international human rights treaties.

Participating schools

Elementary school Vilka Šulekova (https://zsvsuleka.edupage.org/)

The school is attended by children from the Roma community (40%) and Slovak children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. There are about 180 students in 11 classes, four at primary level I, five at primary level II, and two classes for students with learning difficulties. English is taught from grade 1 and German from grade 7. After-school clubs are organised, with activities in sport, informatics and art. The school aims to create a family atmosphere in which all students feel comfortable and all have equal access to education, sports and cultural activities.

Elementary school Ľ. Podjavorinskej, Košice (https://zspodjavorke.edupage.org/)

Founded almost forty years ago, this is the largest of the schools participating in the RPPE. It has about 800 students, all of whom come from the large Roma settlement in which the school is located. There are two Roma teachers and nine Roma teaching assistants, eight of whom are Romani speakers. About 40 per cent of the students come to school with some proficiency in Slovak. In grade 1, teaching assistants work as mediators; by the end of the year students have enough Slovak to participate without mediation. The school aims to produce graduates who can work efficiently and evaluate the results of their work, have mastered the basic principles of work culture, can prepare the workplace and maintain order, can plan work creatively, and know how to observe safety and hygiene regulations at work. In other words, the school is primarily concerned to prepare Roma for the workplace.

Elementary school Alapiskola, Vyškovce nad Ipľom (https://zsvjmvyskovce.edupage.org/)

The school is on the border with Hungary and originally taught through Hungarian. In 2020 it opened a separate section for Slovak speakers. The student cohort includes Roma who mostly do not speak Hungarian but must learn Slovak as the language of schooling. Slovak is taught communicatively, using games, dialogue and a variety of activities. The school provides for Grades 1–4, and currently there are 25 students, 11 in the Hungarian and 14 in the Slovak section. The school has two teachers, one assistant, and part-time teachers for English, music and PE. The assistant has learnt some Romani and uses this knowledge to support the Roma students’ learning of Slovak. After-school activities, which involve all students together, include sports, cycling and archery, and a garden provides a focus for various kinds of science teaching.