Sixty five schools providing inclusive education to function in Armenia

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: Sixty five schools providing inclusive education will function in Armenia from September, 33 of which in Yerevan, 32 in all the provinces, except Shirak. There are about 1200 children needing special educational conditions. “Armenpress” news agency spoke with chief specialist of the Armenian Education and Science Ministry’s general education department Anahit Muradyan about the peculiarities of inclusive education.

- Mrs Muradyan, are the schools providing inclusive education ensured with corresponding conditions for pupils with special needs?

- First of all the schools providing inclusive education are aimed at overcoming the curriculum of children needing special conditions. Our goal is to ensure equal conditions for getting education. Of course there are special conditions for children having physical disability – special toilets, platforms, though it cannot be ascribed to all the schools. Time is necessary to reach it.

- Do the teachers providing inclusive education have special training?

- Teachers of all inclusive schools have special training. The teachers of 65 schools are already trained and ready to provide inclusive education. The parents groups also have an important role, they are working with children to introduce them to the environment. Here we are speaking about right of education which is given to all, any person has right to get education and it is necessary to create equal conditions for all.

- In general, what issues do you face on the way of establishing inclusive education?

- Of course we come forth to issues, we cannot say that everything goes on without problems. People think that if a child has any problem he/she must study in special schools. There are also parents who complain that their child must sit by the side of a child with disability. The role of non-governmental organizations is big in overcoming such issues, they are doing their best to promote creation of equal conditions.

- What steps are being undertaken to develop the system and involve greater number of schools?

- The list of schools providing inclusive education expands from year to year: last year their number was 49. Today we are carrying out an experimental program in Tavush province in collaboration with “Bridge of Hope” and “Mission East” NGOs. The goal of the program is to create opportunity for all the schools to accept children with special needs. In two years in all the provinces schools providing inclusive education will function.