BRATISLAVA (SITA) - Almost 88 percent of all Gypsy families in Slovakia keep certain Gypsy traditions. However, only 65.7 percent of Gypsies consider it important to raise their children as Gypsies. "The identity of Gypsies is linked not only to songs and customs, but also it means being different and isolated towards the non-Gypsy part of the population," The Research Institute of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family's Maria Lenczova told SITA on Tuesday. The institute's research indicates that 55.7 percent of Gypsy families regularly use Romany, the Gypsy language, while 27 percent use it rarely and 17.3 percent do not communicate in the Gypsy language. The research indicates that as the level of education increases for Gypsies, the use of Romany declines. Unemployment and housing problems are the most frequently faced problems in the Gypsy community, and almost 84 percent of Gypsies are discontent with their dwelling conditions. The majority of he unemployed Gypsies say they seek jobs and are interested in having permanent employment. However, Lenczova said their lack of education and interest keep them out of jobs while 51 percent of the respondents have not even finished elementary school. Lenczova also said that social isolation rests heavily on Gypsies and it keeps them away from gaining orientation in society. "More than half of the Gypsies (55.4 percent) only rarely come into contact with non-Gypsy citizens," she said. The research was conducted in 1996--1997 in Slovakia on a sample of 761 respondents.