Racist name-calling is a daily experience for many Traveller children, according to a major consultation process with over 450 Travellers throughout Ireland.
It also emerged that Traveller parents do not know how to deal with schools when their children are subjected to bullying and racist name-calling.
Kathleen McDonnell
The series of meetings held by Pavee Point, the National Traveller Women's Forum and the Irish Traveller Movement, revealed many parents found it difficult to approach school personnel and had difficulties enrolling their children in schools.
Pavee Point Travellers Centre said parents expressed frustration at not knowing what steps to take in dealing with these issues.
"Many Traveller parents feel embarrassed visiting schools because of poor literacy. They may not be able to understand the words that are used and they might not be able to read the letters that are sent from the school," Kathleen McDonnell, a Traveller parent, said.
Around two-thirds of Travellers had left school by the age of 15, according to figures released in 2002.
Pavee Point also said many parents have little or no experience of the school system and find it hard to support their children in that environment. The consultation process revealed many parents expressed a desire to learn more about the Education system so they could support their children in school.
A new DVD 'Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns' was launched by Pavee Point today to inform Traveller parents on ways they can support their child through Primary School. The DVD launch is part of Traveller Focus Week.
"As Traveller parents we know that our children are often called names and bullied in school and we sometimes don't know how to deal with that.
"This DVD gives us some idea of how to go about getting fair play or making a complaint in a school," Ms McDonnell, who features in the DVD, said.
The DVD offers advice to Travellers and provides access to some of the organisations open to parents including the National Parents Council, the Anti-Bullying Centre and the National Education Welfare Board.
"Traveller Education is central to the Traveller Human Rights agenda. We would hope that `Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns' makes a contribution in increasing inclusion and reducing exclusion of Travellers in the Education system," Jane Rooney, Education co-ordinator in Pavee Point and the co-producer of the DVD, said.
"However much more concerted action is required by the government and we call on the Department of Education to urgently publish the long awaited National Traveller Education Strategy."
Pavee Point said the DVD highlights parents position as the primary educators with or without high levels of literacy.
PA