It is very popular nowadays to discuss all sorts of minority rights. The debate remains whether minority groups are treated fairly. There are so many such groups in each society that many of us hear of them only when their rights are discussed in public. I wonder if common people enjoy the same and who will eventually win the race.
Numerous NGOs get enormous funds to carry out projects aimed at integrating members of minority groups into society. They press government to change laws. They are stubborn in reaching their project goals. At least they have to. They are paid to do so. Properly! They are awarded if complete projects in a timely manner. Some of you may think that they do nothing, it’s not true, believe me. I have a very close friend who is eager about her job. She fights hard for minority rights and is very successful and I’m really proud of her. She makes things happen, but not for us, not for the rest of community. And she doesn’t have to because it’s not her job.
Roma children attend the same classes as other “ordinary” pupils. Curriculum is adapted to tailor their needs too.
In many classes there is a brilliant kid who can do much more than average but they often have no room to stand out. At least not in Serbia. There are no programs or incentives for extraordinary kids to achieve outstanding results. On the other hand, if roma kids feel they were deprived of their rights, they can complain and it will soon become a public issue. Even if they are not able to attend certain activities not because they are roma, but because they don’t meet required standards, they may refer to it as discrimination. I’m not saying that they are doing so, but they can and that’s the truth.
One of the worst examples is the law that obliges primary schools to enroll students with special needs in regular classes. Is it so expensive for the state to have specialized institutions for such kids, as it was the case earlier? They will not produce better results this way, probably even worse, but average kids will lack good quality education. Imagine a teacher who has no proper training to work with these children. It is frustrating for both.
I want to be clear! I have nothing against minorities, I was a refugee myself. Also, I know how it feels to be an “outsider” but I wasn’t outsider because I lacked rights. I attended school regularly, had health insurance, no one prevented me from reaching my potentials. There are people who approve of refugees, romas, immigrants. There are also very caring and emphatic people. But it has nothing to do with rights most states give to minorities.
If you feel you don’t belong to the community, it is usually your own feeling, not discrimination. It’s a terrible situation, misfortune, faith that made you feel outcast.
Minorities should integrate, of course. They are equal members of our society. It is better for both them and the community if they contribute with their skills and capacities. Yet, they can reach their full potential in economically stable and prosperous societies, where the rights of all people are properly defined and implemented.
My biggest concern is
Who advocates ordinary people rights? The state? Does it really take things seriously as those who represent minorities, like my friend. If only there were such people employed by the state to stand so fervently for common people and their rights. With NGO sector doing great and the state falling on deaf ears for common folks requests, where there are no trade unions or any similar organizations, I wonder:
“Will common folks eventually become minority”?