Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 28 / Trend I.Isabalayeva /
Azerbaijani Education Ministry has prepared State Program for the development of inclusive education for 2012-2019 and submitted it to the Cabinet, de-institutionalization and child protection department head of the Education Ministry Malahat Hajiyeva told Trend on Tuesday.
She said if the program is implemented, then all the problems in the organization of education for children with disabilities will be obviated. Thus, the program includes all the infrastructure changes at schools that will make educational institutions accessible to all children with disabilities.
In addition, it is planned to make changes to the existing curricula so that they were understandable and accessible to children with disabilities, preparation for these children of a new generation of textbooks, assessment criteria for the admission of children into regular public schools and development of an individual educational plan based on evaluation for them.
Unlike common children, children with a lag in development require a special approach, Ms Hajiyeva said.
All these issues are reflected in this program. The program even provides for recreational activities for these children, the development of children with physical disabilities," said the department head.
With the exception of the Ministry of Finance, all other ministries gave a positive opinion on this program, she said. The Finance Ministry in a letter sent to the Ministry of Education, recommends in connection with the preparation of the National Strategy for the Development of Education in Azerbaijan to include issues reflected in the program in the draft strategy and to submit this program for approval later.
The department, taking into account the recommendations of the Finance Ministry, included in the project of National Strategy for education all the questions that must be implemented under the State Program on development of inclusive education.
If either the National Strategy or State program is adopted, then these activities will be implemented, Ms Hajiyeva said.
Inclusive education provides for bringing children with disabilities to study in ordinary schools.
Today, the country has more than 57,000 disabled children, of whom 1105 are enrolled in special schools, 2664 - in special boarding schools (of which 1353 are permanent residents in these boarding schools), 7750 enrolled in school at home, and 268 are undergoing inclusive education.