MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

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The education system focuses primarily on ensuring accessibility and quality of education for every child, regardless of the presence or absence of any disabilities. This is exactly what the constructive conversation was about during the round table on the conditions of integrated learning.

According to information from the chief specialist of the preschool education department of the Main Directorate of General Secondary, Preschool and Special Education of the Ministry of Education, Elena Mulitsa, the category of children with special needs of psychophysical development is one of the main categories that receives increased attention both in the education system and in other areas of the social sphere from various government agencies.

In 2022, the Education Code was updated. The new edition enshrines the principle of inclusion in education, and its implementation as one of the main directions of state policy in the field of education. This principle implies an organization of education in which all children, regardless of their characteristics (psychological, cultural, social, linguistic, etc.), are part of the general educational system. At the same time, institutions take into account their special educational needs and provide them with the necessary pedagogical, social and other types of support.

“As part of the implementation of the principle of inclusion, we are working in different directions. Firstly, this is the provision of special conditions in educational institutions for children of various categories. Thus, the acquisition of special equipment and special teaching aids is one of the activities of the state program “Education and Youth Policy” for 2021-2025. More than 200 institutions of preschool, general secondary and special education purchase such equipment annually. As part of the state program “Social Protection” for 2021-2025, we are talking about creating an environment with an integrated approach, when the territory or building of an educational institution is provided with certain architectural features, visual, auxiliary devices that allow the child to better navigate the surrounding space. During the implementation of the state program, it is planned to create an integrated accessible environment in 250 educational institutions,” Elena Mulitsa informed.

Another emphasis that is placed within the framework of creating special conditions is the established practice of introducing additional staff positions for teaching staff, which allow for personal support in the educational process.

The formation of an inclusive culture for all participants in the educational process remains important. We are talking about parents, teachers, and the children themselves. Since 2015, the Concept for the development of inclusive education for people with special needs in Belarus has been implemented. Now these issues are outlined within the framework of other strategic documents, in particular, the Concept for the development of the education system of the Republic of Belarus until 2030, the National Action Plan for the implementation in Belarus of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other documents. Children with special needs are included in all areas of the educational institution's activities.

Today, the education system offers various options for organizing the educational process for children with special needs. Some children receive education in special education institutions. In total, there are 236 special education institutions in the country, of which 48 are special kindergartens, 47 special schools and special boarding schools, as well as 141 centers for correctional and developmental education and rehabilitation. There is a tendency to reduce the number of special schools and boarding schools. Over the past 20 years, their number has halved.

The education system also provides a number of benefits and social support measures that aim at children with special needs of psychophysical development. Among them are free use of teaching aids for those who are mastering special ED programs. There are also differentiated benefits in payment for meals in educational institutions; for disabled children, this meal is free. In addition, this is an organization of free transportation for students with special needs.

Elena Mulitsa noted that the new edition of the Education Code for the socialization of students includes a norm that provides the opportunity to receive education at home in combination with classes at an educational institution. This year, an instructional and methodological letter on this issue was developed, which is posted on the website of the Ministry of Education. Thus, a system of education for persons with special needs was developed. It ensures almost 100% coverage of each identified child with various forms of assistance and education. This is carried out in cooperation with health care and social service institutions. The child is accompanied from birth with the provision of early comprehensive assistance and, in fact, until he receives a profession.

Vera Khitryuk, director of the Institute of Inclusive Education at the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, noted that Belarus is the only country in the post-Soviet space that has been implementing integrated education and training models in practice since 1995, having come a very difficult path. In this regard, it is noted that today we have something to be proud of.