Number of students in inclusive classes in Ukraine grows tenfold in five years – Social Policy Ministry

KYIV. Sept 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ministry of Social Policy states that the number of students in inclusive classes in Ukraine has increased tenfold over the past five years.

"Ukraine has significantly increased the pace of inclusion in secondary schools. According to the State Service for the Quality of Education of Ukraine, five years ago ten times fewer children were enrolled in inclusive classes than today. Now inclusive education is organized in almost 43% of schools, in more than 18,000 of classes," the ministry’s press service said.

It is said that, at the request of parents, an educational institution must create an inclusive class, as well as provide permanent or partial support for children with special educational needs during schooling.

"If a student’s special educational needs are identified during the educational process, the institution’s management should make efforts to minimize them, and when this is not enough, recommends that parents contact an inclusive resource center for a comprehensive psychological and pedagogical assessment of development of the child. And on the basis of its conclusion, the school provides support, taking into account the problems revealed. Namely: it provides conditions for unimpeded access of the child to the school premises, purchases the equipment of a resource room and means of correction according to the possibilities," the message says.