The Education Ministry, with the support of UNICEF Moldova, has launched a campaign to promote inclusive education themed “Come with me, school is for you”. The campaign includes activities to raise people’s awareness, train teachers and create conditions in schools for children with special needs, IPN reports.
“Some of the children with disabilities accept home training and are thus isolated from society. By this campaign, we want to inform the children and parents that school is for everyone and is ready to accept children with special needs. We don’t say that we have perfect conditions. We will continue to work in this respect so as to make progress,” acting Minister of Education Maia Sandu said in the launch.
UNICEF Representative in Moldova Alexandra Yuster said that everyone’s task is to offer the children the chance to learn, no matter whether they have health problems or not. “There is a huge number of children with special needs who do not attend school. Others go to school, but suffer from lack of attention from students and teachers. The number of children isolated in auxiliary schools is also high. UNICEF supports inclusive education and we want every child to have access to education,” she stated.
Lucia Gavrilita, director of the Center for Children with Disabilities “Speranta”, said she is the mother of two children with special needs. She shared her personal experience, saying it was very hard to integrate her children into the general school program. “There is no legal framework on inclusive education. Initially, my child attended the school without being officially admitted. I came to an understanding with the director,” she stated.
According to official data, there are over 16,000 children with disabilities in Moldova. The campaign “Come with me, school is for you” forms part of the National Inclusive Education Program for 2001-2020. Within the campaign, there will be broadcast three awareness-heightening videos on TV and radio, inspired by real cases. There will be also organized events to sensitize the people, thematic classes and other activities.
