First Instance Court Upheld Segregated Education

01 February 2006

In June 2005, the Hungarian non-governmental organisation Chance for Children Foundation filed a lawsuit in the Miskolc County Court against the Miskolc Municipality alleging the practice of school segregation of Romani children city wide. The complaint claimed the Municipality organises the education system in a manner discriminatory to Romani students and other disadvantaged children, as by merging schools children are taught in the same institutions but in different buildings and under poorer conditions. On November 3, 2005, the Chance for Children Foundation lost at first instance the lawsuit. In its judgement, the Miskolc County Court found that the aim of the Municipality was indeed the integration of disadvantaged students and that this action does not violate the right to equal opportunity. The court stated further that the merger of schools was necessary for the Municipality to maintain the schools of the city. The decision has been appealed by the Chance for Children Foundation before the Debrecen Appellate Court.

(ERRC)