Inclusive Education Assistive Program
Inclusive Education Assistive Program considers realization of the following objectives:
SUB-PROGRAM “FINANCING OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM”
Inclusive Education Multidisciplinary Team (MT) is a team of specialists, comprising of 3 psychologists, 2 occupational therapists and 2 special education teachers. Function of the MT is provision of qualified assistance in the process of inclusive education development to all schools in Tbilisi. To achieve this goal, MT members will: identify and assess individual needs and abilities of children with disabilities; provide recommendations to parents of SEN children on effective delivery of educational process; evaluate and monitor academic and social achievements of SEN children.
SUB-PROGRAM “FUNCTIONING OF EXPERTS’ GROUP”
The aim of the sub-program is elaboration of the expert’s statement on priority topics of the Action Plan on SEN children education in 2009-2011.
To ensure accessibility of quality education for all the children, it is important to develop national model on SEN children education. Introduction and functioning of the model will be regulated by legal texts and will be the subject of monitoring. National Model of SEN children education should comprise of following components: standard rules of SEN children education in mainstream schools; Rules of IEP development, implementation and monitoring; Assessment of academic achievements and rules of transfer to the other stage.
Activity of the experts’ group should be based on the best practices of research and evidences of SEN children evaluation. National model of SEN children education will be presented to the wide society, schools, educational resource centers and the Ministry of Education and Science.
Different assessment tests proposed by the experts’ group will be adapted. The expert’s group will also discuss: International professional standards of special education; Bachelor’s and Master's programs at higher education institutions of Georgia; Recommendations for university curriculum on special education will be developed, presented and discussed with competent authorities; Recommendations on research programs in the sphere of inclusive education will be developed.
SUB-PROGRAM “SUPPORTING OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN PILOT SCHOOLS IN TBILISI”
National Curriculum and Assessment Center, has implemented project “Introduction of Inclusive Education in Ten Pilot Schools in Tbilisi” initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The project was aimed at introduction of inclusive education in ten school in Tbilisi (№ 67, №130, № 24, №10, №87, №60, №181, №21, №160 , №180) and development of the State Policy and Strategy on Inclusive Education.
In December 2008, after the termination of the project, The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia undertook the obligation of further developing of inclusive education in those schools. For unhampered development of the process, the Ministry has conducted a survey for revealing of main needs at each school. Basing on the results of the survey the Ministry planned financing for supporting activities: financing of special education teacher’s salary; improvement of school physical infrastructure; provision of technical resourses, consumables and visual aids. Two schools with significant number of children on wheelchairs got financing for transportation and driver’s salary. It is also considered to identify most successful schools and award special certificates and monetary prize.
SUB-PROGRAM “SUPPORTING OF SCHOOLS OF SPECIALIZED EDUCATION PROFILE”
Announcing inclusive education as a topic of priority, the State also realizes that mainstream educational system is not able to meet the needs of all the children. Provision of special education (not inclusive setting) is possible in specialized schools. In many countries of the world specialized schools serve as main resources for inclusive education development. In most cases they are the leaders in regard of experience and knowledge in adaptation of curricula and teaching strategies. To ensure effective functioning of the specialized schools (legal entities) the Ministry of Education and Science covers salaries of administrative-technical personnel, special education teachers and running costs.
SUB-PROGRAM “PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS “LETS LEARN TOGETHER”
The ministry of Education and Science aims to ensure step-by step accessibility of inclusive education in all schools throughout Georgia. One of the main topics here is encouragement of schools to become more active in creation of positive background for inclusive education development at schools. To achieve this goal, the Ministry announces a competition: “Let’s Learn Together”. The competition will enable schools to present the projects on their vision how they want to introduce and develop inclusive education at schools. Special commission, founded on a base of individual legal act, issued by the Minister of Education and Science will select the winner. The winners will get financing.
SUB-PROGRAM “EQUIPMENT OF THE RESOURCE-ROOMS IN TEN REGIONAL SCHOOLS ”
Ministry of Education and Science implements project “Development of Inclusive Education in 9 Regional Public Schools”. The aim of the project is development/introduction of inclusive education in 9 regional public schools and creation of sustainable system supporting future development of inclusive education. To achieve the goal, it was decided to create supporting environment of SEN children education. Equipment of the resource rooms in ten targeted schools will contribute to enrollment of SEN children into schools together with their peers and to provision of quality education. In particular, the resource-room will be used for individual teaching of SEN children, for team meetings and development of supporting materials. It will also serve as the resource for the whole school too.
- Identification and assessment of SEN children; Identification of their needs and abilities.
- Assessment of academic achievements of SEN children already enrolled into mainstream schools;
- Development of the National Model of Education of SEN children;
- Piloting of the tools (tests) for assessment and identification of educational needs of SEN children;
- Development of recommendations for university curricula of special education and related specialties;
- Financing of activities for provision of full participation of SEN children in educational environment: special education teachers, equipment of the resource rooms, transport facility for 2 schools (mini-bus, driver).
SUB-PROGRAM “FINANCING OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM”
Inclusive Education Multidisciplinary Team (MT) is a team of specialists, comprising of 3 psychologists, 2 occupational therapists and 2 special education teachers. Function of the MT is provision of qualified assistance in the process of inclusive education development to all schools in Tbilisi. To achieve this goal, MT members will: identify and assess individual needs and abilities of children with disabilities; provide recommendations to parents of SEN children on effective delivery of educational process; evaluate and monitor academic and social achievements of SEN children.
SUB-PROGRAM “FUNCTIONING OF EXPERTS’ GROUP”
The aim of the sub-program is elaboration of the expert’s statement on priority topics of the Action Plan on SEN children education in 2009-2011.
To ensure accessibility of quality education for all the children, it is important to develop national model on SEN children education. Introduction and functioning of the model will be regulated by legal texts and will be the subject of monitoring. National Model of SEN children education should comprise of following components: standard rules of SEN children education in mainstream schools; Rules of IEP development, implementation and monitoring; Assessment of academic achievements and rules of transfer to the other stage.
Activity of the experts’ group should be based on the best practices of research and evidences of SEN children evaluation. National model of SEN children education will be presented to the wide society, schools, educational resource centers and the Ministry of Education and Science.
Different assessment tests proposed by the experts’ group will be adapted. The expert’s group will also discuss: International professional standards of special education; Bachelor’s and Master's programs at higher education institutions of Georgia; Recommendations for university curriculum on special education will be developed, presented and discussed with competent authorities; Recommendations on research programs in the sphere of inclusive education will be developed.
SUB-PROGRAM “SUPPORTING OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN PILOT SCHOOLS IN TBILISI”
National Curriculum and Assessment Center, has implemented project “Introduction of Inclusive Education in Ten Pilot Schools in Tbilisi” initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The project was aimed at introduction of inclusive education in ten school in Tbilisi (№ 67, №130, № 24, №10, №87, №60, №181, №21, №160 , №180) and development of the State Policy and Strategy on Inclusive Education.
In December 2008, after the termination of the project, The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia undertook the obligation of further developing of inclusive education in those schools. For unhampered development of the process, the Ministry has conducted a survey for revealing of main needs at each school. Basing on the results of the survey the Ministry planned financing for supporting activities: financing of special education teacher’s salary; improvement of school physical infrastructure; provision of technical resourses, consumables and visual aids. Two schools with significant number of children on wheelchairs got financing for transportation and driver’s salary. It is also considered to identify most successful schools and award special certificates and monetary prize.
SUB-PROGRAM “SUPPORTING OF SCHOOLS OF SPECIALIZED EDUCATION PROFILE”
Announcing inclusive education as a topic of priority, the State also realizes that mainstream educational system is not able to meet the needs of all the children. Provision of special education (not inclusive setting) is possible in specialized schools. In many countries of the world specialized schools serve as main resources for inclusive education development. In most cases they are the leaders in regard of experience and knowledge in adaptation of curricula and teaching strategies. To ensure effective functioning of the specialized schools (legal entities) the Ministry of Education and Science covers salaries of administrative-technical personnel, special education teachers and running costs.
SUB-PROGRAM “PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS “LETS LEARN TOGETHER”
The ministry of Education and Science aims to ensure step-by step accessibility of inclusive education in all schools throughout Georgia. One of the main topics here is encouragement of schools to become more active in creation of positive background for inclusive education development at schools. To achieve this goal, the Ministry announces a competition: “Let’s Learn Together”. The competition will enable schools to present the projects on their vision how they want to introduce and develop inclusive education at schools. Special commission, founded on a base of individual legal act, issued by the Minister of Education and Science will select the winner. The winners will get financing.
SUB-PROGRAM “EQUIPMENT OF THE RESOURCE-ROOMS IN TEN REGIONAL SCHOOLS ”
Ministry of Education and Science implements project “Development of Inclusive Education in 9 Regional Public Schools”. The aim of the project is development/introduction of inclusive education in 9 regional public schools and creation of sustainable system supporting future development of inclusive education. To achieve the goal, it was decided to create supporting environment of SEN children education. Equipment of the resource rooms in ten targeted schools will contribute to enrollment of SEN children into schools together with their peers and to provision of quality education. In particular, the resource-room will be used for individual teaching of SEN children, for team meetings and development of supporting materials. It will also serve as the resource for the whole school too.
