NUMBER OF HUNGARIAN ROMA MATRICULATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL DOUBLES TO 20 PER CENT

As many as 20 per cent of Hungary’s Roma minority now graduate from secondary school with a matriculation examination, the country head of the Roma Education Fund said on television on Saturday.
Speaking on state television’s all-news channel M1, Judit Szira said that this number has doubled since the international fund was set up with the objective of closing the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. The share of students of a Roma background graduating from university has also doubled and now reaches two per cent.

In addition to covering tuition fees, the fund also assists Roma youth attending college or university with an annual scholarship of 300 euros. Increasing numbers of Roma in tertiary education are beneficial also because the development of an elite within the ethnic group sets a good example to other young Roma, Ms. Szira said.