A Comprehensive Study on the Discontinuity of Primary School Education of Children in the Gypsy Community (With Special Reference to a / Siyambalagaswewa Primary School in the Mihinthale Divisional Education Sector)

The Gypsy Community in Sri Lanka has its own set of customs, rituals, and believes that have been passed down through the generations. Despite the fact that Gypsies also receive a modern, structured school education, gypsy education should be a crucial issue for contemporary society. The largest challenge that gypsy students have during their entire educational carriers is that they don’t keep a regular attendance schedule as an individual at school. The main objective of this research study to investigate on the discontinuity of primary school education of children in gypsy community and one of the secondary objective of the study is to investigate the school social worker’s intervention. The study utilized qualitative method. The overall sample size of this study is 30. The 30 participants which includes 12 gypsy students, 03 parents, 02 villages, 02 chieftains, and 11 key informants. The key data collection method for this research study were interviews, focus group discussions and case studies. The research area was the primary students of Siyanbalagaswewa Pre-School. According to the research findings poverty, racism and prejudice, unsupportive family background and children’s health which affect both cognitively and physically, it was also found that the school community, including the instructors and the principals, put a lot of work for seeking regular attendance of gypsy children. A model was developed as the research last phase for responding the challenges that has been identified.