Gov't Agrees on Need for Cross-ministerial Approach to Intergenerational Poverty

Trebisov, 10 April (TASR) - Representatives from several ministries as well as Parliament agreed on the need for an inter-ministerial solution to the problem of marginalised communities at their meeting in the town of Trebisov (Kosice region) on Friday. They met local government representatives and experts to jointly present a specific plan for addressing long-term problems in the region, including inter-generational poverty. The Education Ministry reported that Trebisov is an example of a town in which the state doesn't rely on one-off measures, but on changing specific habits, including children's school attendance, parental involvement and coordination among institutions. The goal is to achieve concrete results, such as more children enrolled in education, more people employed on the labour market, greater safety on the streets, and better living conditions in the regions. Trebisov is home to one of the largest urban marginalised Roma communities in Europe, and it's been plagued for a long time by problems related to limited access to education, poor living conditions and a lack of safety. "If we want to move forward, we must start with children, with education. It's the only way to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty. A child mustn't be allowed to grow up outside of school, because then not only the child loses out, but society as a whole. That's why we say clearly - children belong in schools, not on the streets," said Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD). According to him, this problem requires a joint effort by the state, local governments and other stakeholders, as well as consistent, long-term solutions. The minister reported that a new nursery school with a capacity of 160 children is being set up in the town, and a new primary school for approximately 810 students is under construction. Government representatives emphasised that the solution can't be provided by a single ministry. The Labour Ministry is strengthening incentives to work and introducing a mechanism to support school attendance. The Interior Ministry is increasing the police presence and protecting children from abuse and crime, while the Health Ministry is focusing on prevention, hygiene and the availability of health care in the region. The common goal is to integrate education, work, safety and health into a single functional system. Children's Commissioner Jozef Miklosko considers the situation faced by children from marginalised communities, and in particular Roma communities, to be one of the most serious challenges in the field of children's rights in Slovakia. "If we want to achieve real change, we need a coordinated approach by all ministries, high-quality and shared data, and the active involvement of children themselves in decision-making on matters that directly affect them," he said, adding that without this, it won't be possible to break the cycle of poverty and exclusion. am/df