It is hard to ensure the access to education of students with special educational needs, including students with intellectual disabilities. Individualized plans are worked out for these children and these plans are to be implemented. In the case of children with hearing and visual impairments, the teaching process is also specific, related to the use of sign language and the Braille alphabet, Roman Banari, secretary general of the National Youth Council of Moldova, stated in a debate organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, IPN reports.

Roman Banari stated that together with the implementation of distance learning, they conducted a poll that covered 5,000 students. 300 of the respondents said they known students who do not have access to the Internet or to a computer. The statistics for 2018 show only 62% of the households in towns and 42% of the households in villages have computers. The figures are alarming and it is highly improbable that they changed significantly.

The students noted the teachers are not ready to use digital tools. Many said they do the homework on paper, photograph it and then send it to the teacher for checking.

Roman Banari noted the launch of educational platforms that would provide videos and also possibilities of electronic testing of students would ease the teachers’ and students’ work. An online national program with all the topics is needed. The teacher would play the role of facilitator and would guide the students in the learning process.

The debate “Impact of COVID-19 on the Republic of Moldova: how inclusive and efficient online teaching process is?” was organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.