Teacher training in Roma education in Greece: Intercultural and critical educational necessities

This paper first outlines briefly the present status and position of the Roma/Gypsies in the Greek context while it gives a review of education policy and provision. Secondly, it indicates that Greek primary teachers lack adequate preparedness for the challenges accompanying contemporary educational multiculturalism and social justice issues. The following part is focused on the training of teachers and the need to educate and prepare them further on specific intercultural issues as well as methodologies for teaching in multicultural classes. Finally, the paper indicates the importance of teacher training to combat racism and promote social justice in classrooms and schools through critical education and empowerment/emancipation processes of Roma children, and how those two pedagogical philosophies (intercultural and critical) may converge within teacher training praxis.