In Romania, historians are working on the integration of optional courses on the history of the Roma, for middle and high school students. The module must in particular delve into the subject of slavery of this minority, estimated at between 1.5 and 2 million people in the country, according to the Romanian state. Abolished 170 years ago, forced labor suffers from a lack of visibility in Romanian schools. But the start of this teaching, scheduled for the start of the 2026 school year, could be delayed.
From our correspondent in Bucharest, Guilhem Bernes
Sitting at his office in Bucharest, sociologist Adrian-Nicolae Furtuna opens an archive book. Inside, contracts for the sale of Roma slaves parade: “Look here. This is the case of Craciun, a Roma child, who was sold to three different masters in just two days. You see here you can see the signature and the fingerprint, at the bottom of the text written in Cyrillic. »
For nearly five centuries, the slavery of Roms is practiced in the Romanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldova. Monasteries, boyars, peasants, the whole of society uses the forced labor of this ethnic minority. Slaves are then considered movable property. An absence of rights with its share of people beaten, sometimes to the point of death, sexual violence and children separated from their parents.
This page of history fell into oblivion in Romaniasince the system was abolished 170 years ago. “I discovered the history of Roma slavery when I was 20 years old. I was a student. When I started my research, I wasn’t chasing sensationalism. But by dint of documenting, I ended up coming across information like thissays Adrian-Nicolae Furtuna. These documents clearly show how a Romanian peasant could buy a child and then sell him to the monastery on which he depended. »
« They need to understand (…) what happened »
Delia Grigorie, activist and lecturer at the University of Bucharest, is working on the writing of new school textbooks. Since the adoption of a law in July 2023, Romanian middle and high school students can choose courses dedicated to Roma history. The program, lasting four years, still being developed, must focus on their slavery :
« They need to understand, from a young age, what happened : why the Roma have been marginalized and still remain strongly stigmatized today. But also, why they sometimes exclude themselves and maintain very low self-esteem. The teaching of this history, which is still not taught in school, is essential. If we pass it on, I’m sure that the racism will move back. »
But the start of the new course is delayed. The group of experts responsible for writing the manuals submitted its proposal for curriculum To a commission of the Ministry of Education. For eight months, the researchers have had no news. Delia Grigorie talks about starting classes at the earliest for the start of the 2027 school year… four years after the law was passed.
Also readThe difficult access of Roma children to education
