The 14-Year Old Pupils´ Attitudes to Immigrants and Ethnic Groups in Slovakia

Abstract

This article represents the results of quantitative research of ICCS 2009 in the field of Slovak 14-year-old pupils’ attitudes to immigrants in the Slovak Republic. The research confirms that the new opportunities in freedom of movement within European countries often bring greater concerns than the real economic, cultural and social consequences of this freedom are. Slovak pupils expressed highest tolerance to those immigrants who come from poor countries, who have different religious beliefs and who have different racial or ethnic origin. According to the pupils, proficiency in the national language is an important precondition for offering equal opportunities to the immigrants. They expect that the immigrants will adapt their lifestyle to the majority and simultaneously will learn the national language.