THE ROLE OF TEACHING ASSISTANTS IN THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The presence of a teaching assistant is one of the most important support measures in the education of students with special educational needs. In the Czech Republic, teaching assistants have been supporting Roma students in schools since the 1990s. Nowadays, there is a growing need for teaching assistants to support students from migrant backgrounds in schools. Teaching assistants have an especially important role when it comes to tutoring students from ethnic minorities and in ensuring effective communication between schools and students' families. This paper focuses on the development of the profession of teaching assistant in relation to the education of students from ethnic minorities in the last twenty years, with particular emphasis on the transition from ethnic to social criteria of support. Presenting the findings from a current research study, this paper shows the contribution of teaching assistants in supporting teachers. The paper will also discuss the shared ethnicity of teaching assistants and students. While the affiliation to the same ethnic group is not a necessary condition for teaching assistants' effectiveness, the findings of the presented study show that Roma teaching assistants bring significant benefits to the education of Roma students and significantly contribute to communication between schools and Roma families.