INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN UZBEKISTAN

1. The Strategy consists of 5 sections, dedicated to the development of inclusive education in Uzbekistan:

Section I – Development and provision of effective services in inclusive education
Section II – The legal and financial framework for the development of inclusive education
Section III – Ensuring inter-agency cooperation on inclusive education
Section IV – Increasing public awareness on inclusive education
Section V – Monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy’s implementation

2. 26 national and international experts were involved in the development of the Strategy;

3. 10 organizations (5 key ministries, the Oliy Majlis, NCSAC, «Sen Yolgiz Emassan» Fund, Uzbekistan Television and Radio Company, UzA National Agency) were involved in the work on the Strategy;

4. 5 seminars and working meetings were held to develop the Strategy;

5. The length of the Strategy is 82 pages.

Uzbekistan demonstrating that social integration hasincreased and there is greater coordination of policy onvarious groups of the Uzbeksociety. For the development and successful introduction of an inclusive education system, such initiatives require legislative duplication andbackup. The National Strategy for Inclusive Education for 2015 – 2017 points out that Uzbekistan has not yet developed a comprehensive policy to support more inclusive educational practices.

However, an important task is coordination between the five ministries (Public Education, Higher and Secondary Special Education, Health, Labor and Social Welfare, Finance) and the public of Uzbekistan in the introduction of the principles of inclusive education. The focus of this strategy is on the application of the best European practices, while an important aspect is also the compliance with the legal and administrative matters of the existing education systemin Uzbekistan.

Therefore, the National Strategy for Inclusive Education for 2015 – 2017 not only provides very concrete and achievable steps to introduce a more inclusive education system in Uzbekistan, but also creates a certain reserve for the future integrated policy in this area. Based on facts and substantiated by the practice of the successful experience gained in Uzbekistan, the strategy enables to direct and coordinate the creation of the full-fledged policy on inclusive education.