Inclusion and Collaborative. Working in School Experiences from Romania theoretical perspectives and practical relevance

Transcription

1 Inclusion and Collaborative Inclusive education for children with special needs and disabilities on Romania Working in School Experiences from Romania theoretical perspectives and practical relevance Alois GHERGUT Associated Professor PhD Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iasi, Romania Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences Special Education Department Alois GHERGUT Associated Professor PhD University Alexandru Ioan Cuza Iasi, Romania Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences Special Education Department

2 Romania - the country where 20 years ago the conditions of life for children with SEN in institutions shocked the world... Romania today the country where inclusive practice for people with disabilities has become a great challenge for the social system

3 Statistics in brief: Officially, the number of people with disabilities is almost 700 thousand Unofficially this number could be much bigger The number of children with special needs is almost 70 thousands Some of them are included in normal schools programs; most of them are in special schools and institutions for assistance

4 Social policies and strategies focused on the following priorities have been developed in the recent years : legislative action - adoption of antidiscrimination legislation package to remove all existing barriers; change of attitude engagement in educational activities for understanding the needs and rights of persons with disabilities and their active participation in social life; services for independent living promotion of an independent and dignified existence; family support - resources to families of persons with disabilities to ensure their support and social inclusion; access to employment key to inclusion and social integration media creation of public information programs; education system - schools should participate and support the understanding and acceptance of rights of persons with disabilities. The educational system should play a key role to ensure individual development and social inclusion, enabling children and youth with disabilities to attain the highest possible degree of autonomy and independence.

5 In particular after the fall of the communist regime (1989 onwards) Romania has been a kind of laboratory for introducing and experimenting various systems and strategies to deal with children with special needs in schools and in other learning environments. Many organizations including UNESCO and UNICEF have contributed to these pilot and experimental activities.

6 Education of children with disabilities and special needs in Romania in inclusive schools is the consequence of educational policies elaborated in recent years, after the Salamanca Statement and the release of the Framework for Action on Special Needs Education.

7 After 1997 we have witnessed the appearance of a new extended wave of partnerships between schools and nationally relevant teacher training programs addressed to teachers from both regular schools and special school, teaching them how to assist the processes of school inclusion, develop local or regional projects to support this development and especially set up partnerships between professionals, parents and volunteers.

8 Collaborative work experiences Levels of collaborative work in educational system: - at classroom level - at school level - at community level

9 Exemples of collaborative work in class class teacher and support teacher they work together for adaptation of curricula and individualization of education for each child with SEN; children without SEN and children with SEN in group activities. class teacher and support teacher with parents (it is not so usual but isolated experiences exist which confirm that for a succesful inclusion it is essential to have a good collaboration with families/parents

10 Do you know other experiences from your classroom? Discussion and comments in teams of 3-4 persons; 5-8 min.

11 Examples of collaborative work in school class teacher and support teacher with speech therapist they work together to project strategies for assisting the optimisation of the communication abilities of children with speech disorders in class activities children without SEN and children with SEN in extra class activities class teacher and support teacher with school psychologist (it is not so usual - for successful inclusion it is necessary to involve the school psychologist who supports activities of children with behavioral disorders, ADHD, autism etc.)

12 Do you know other experiences from your school? Discussion and comments in teams of 3-4 persons; 5-8 min.

13 Examples of collaborative work in community: teachers from the school and NGO representatives they are working together for inclusion programs development in community children without SEN and children with SEN in common community activities teacher from inclusive schools with teacher from special schools expertise exchange and exemples for good practices in educational activities with children with SEN

14 Other experiences in yours communities Discussion and comments in teams of 3-4 persons; 5-8 min.

15 What would be desirable? encourage more autonomy of schools each school could develop conditions and resources for inclusion practices substantial support from the authorities and institutions from communities; financial support, logistic support, social services, etc. change the attitude of parents, children in class, teachers and authorities, fight stereotypes

16 Have you other suggestions/comments? Discussion and comments in teams of 3-4 persons; 5min.

17 Finally I would challenge you with the following questions: Is the school a place for all children (regardless of their problems or limits) or a place for selection and fostering discrimination? Is the school a place for social interaction and social development or only a place for theoretical learning? Is the school a place for learning and practising equity and democracy through collaboration or a place for competition and exclusion of some pupils?

18 Thanks for your attention!!