INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN UZBEKISTAN

On May 29, 2015 in «Grand Mir Hotel», the project «Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs in Uzbekistan” held a Kick – Off Conference. The project aims to improve the quality of education for children with special needs between the ages of 2 and 10 years and promote their inclusion in mainstream schools and kindergartens in Uzbekistan.

The project work will be carried out within two years at pilot sites in Samarkand, Namangan, Khoresm, Surkhandarya regions and Tashkent city. More than 150 participants attended the conference. Among the participants, there were members of:
- Members of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis;
- Representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers;
- Representatives of the Ministry of Public Education;
- Representatives of the Ministry Healthcare;
- Representatives of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education;
- Representatives of the Ministry Labor and Social Protection;
- Representatives of the Ministry Finance;
- Representatives of the Ministry Justice;
- Representatives of regional administrations of the pilot regions;
- Representatives of nongovernmental organizations:

National Center for Social Adaptation of Children (NCSAC), Fund «Sen yolg’iz emassan», «SOS

- Children’s Villages of Uzbekistan» and members of parent clubs;
- Students of schools and colleges;
- International experts.

International experts presented information on the basic principles and mechanisms of implementation of the latest trends in the field of inclusive education applied in the EU state member countries. It was noted that inclusive education - is a recognition of the value of all children and their learning ability. Thus, in terms of inclusion EDUCATION SYSTEM adapts to the child and not the child - TO THE SYSTEM.

Summing up the conference, the participants stressed that the longterm experience in the development of inclusive education in the world proves that the process inclusive education, on the one hand, lead not only to the access of children with special needs to educational institutions, but also to increase their quality of life. On the other hand, the society receives a great experience in the development of tolerance, compassion and equal treatment of all people, regardless of social status, including people with disabilities.