INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN UZBEKISTAN

This was the topic of the seminar for specialists of Medical, Psychological and Pedagogical as well as Psychological, Medical and Pedagogical Commissions that has been conducted from May 10 to May 20 in pilot project regions. The training was conducted by the International Expert on Inclusive Education Mudite Reigase and the Expert on Legal and Budgetary Framework Yulduzhon Umarbekova..

During the training participants had a possibility to receive information on the legislative updates relevant to the education of children with special needs, as well as develop concrete cases from the work practice with children with special needs and determine the ways of solution of emerging issues. More than 120 specialists, including teachers and medical personnel took part in these trainings.

Project Expert on Legal and Budgetary Framework Yulduzhon Umarbekova talks about successes and challenges in the work of commissions

- How do you assess the overall level of awareness of specialists of the MPPC1 and PMPC2 on inclusive education, and the necessity of its application? Does their definition differ before and after the project implementation?

Y. Umarbekova: Members of the MPPC and PMPC in pilot regions are using the knowledge in the organization of inclusive education in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Their awareness has been extremely increased after the previous trainings conducted by the project, where participants obtained a lot of information on the application of instruments for the examination and assessment of educational needs of children with special needs.

The approach of special teachers and doctors towards making a decision of sending the child to mainstream institution has been significantly changed.

Members of the MPPC and PMPC state that the medical diagnosis of the child is not the main criteria; it is very important to examine what the child can do. Every child shall be engaged in one of the forms of education based on his/her abilities.

Today, in accordance with the regulatory norms our system of education has 4 forms of education: mainstream education, special education, inclusive education and home education. Members of the MPPC and PMPC provide the recommendation on the child based on his/her educational needs to engage in one of the above mentioned educational forms, and parents shall make a decision on the determination of the educational establishment.

- What are the main barriers that are faced by specialists in their work? What are the ways of their solution? Can you share with some concrete cases?

Y.Umarbekova: According to specialists, there are also some difficulties exist in this respect.
There are some cases when the commission sends the child to mainstream school or kindergarten, but parents are against this decision. Or, when the parents are agree with the
decision, but the administration of the institution is disagree or not ready to enroll the child with special educational needs.

This shall not of course obstruct the process of application of inclusive education in Uzbekistan. It is necessary to work with parents of children and provide a right guidance based on the best interests of the child. Schools and kindergartens shall step-by-step provide necessary conditions in institutions to include children with special needs in the process of mainstream education.

This is also prescribed in the MPPC and PMPC Regulations and other legislative acts. The process of development and implementation of inclusive education requires significant efforts and step-by-step work.

MPPC and PMPC play the important role in this process, it may be said that in the educational fortune of the child. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt several regulatory acts regulating the activities of commissions.

- Your overall impression from previous trainings.

Y.Umarbekova: It was pleasant that the trainings were attended not only by the members of MPPC and PMPC from pilot cities, but also from districts of Khorezm, Tashkent, Samarkand and Surhandarya regions. This means that today the whole educational system in Uzbekistan shall initiate the application of inclusive education for persons with minor developmental needs.

Participants were grateful for the information provided and handout materials, and informed about their readiness to use them in practice. It is important to underline that on May 18, 2016 by the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan it was conducted the Republican Seminar in Namangan for employees of kindergartens and members of MPPC that provide expert opinion in their work on the guidance of children in between of 2 and 7 years old to mainstream and specialized kindergartens.

The work of MPPC, individual sessions of teachers of the deaf, teacher-speech pathologist with children with special needs was presented in the seminar. Members of the commissions shared their experience in this regard – children who attended correctional and development courses have been already transferred from specialized kindergartens to mainstream kindergartens.

The project team has also participated in this seminar work presenting their results and proposals to improve the system of pre-school education in our country. Moreover, we have also demonstrated the social video produced in the frame of the project.

(Interviewed by N.Alikulova)