Creating conditions for inclusive education of children with special educational needs
Creating conditions for education of special children is among crucial tasks in the education. In this regard, Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region is carrying out targeted work to respect the rights of children with special educational needs to receive educational services and special psychological-pedagogical support, providing their early correction.
Currently, 10,896 children with special educational needs (including 2,340 children are of preschool age, 8,556 children are of school age) live in the region.
There are 3 psychological-medical-pedagogical consultations to examine children with developmental problems. There are 8 psychological and special education units, a rehabilitation center, an autism center and 73 speech therapy centers in general educational institutions to provide correctional assistance for rehabilitation and adaptation.
Currently, more than 2,000 children receive rehabilitation and adaptation services in special education units, a rehabilitation center, an autism center and speech therapy centers.
7 special general education institutions (6 public, 1 private elementary school) and 7 special general education institutions (5 public, 2 private) special preschool education educate children according to a special program.
In the 2022-2023 school year, Ust-Kamenogorsk launched Special School “Wonderland” for children with ASD”, Markhabat Correctional Kindergarten. Both institutions have a state educational order.
To date, there are 1,562 children (1,042 ones at schools, 520 ones in preschool institutions) in special institutions.
In order to provide corrective support to the children, 51 schools opened inclusion education units, resource centers (including 4 ones are support units for teaching children with autism spectrum disorders), 3 ones in preschool institutions.
138 rates of defectologists (including 62 in preschool institutions), and 117 rates of teaching assistants (including 17 in preschool institutions) have been introduced to provide psychological and pedagogical support in the context of inclusive education in general educational institutions.
Furthermore, teachers’ qualifications in inclusive education are annually improved in order to prepare teachers for working with special children. Thus, in general, the share of teachers of preschool and secondary education institutions who completed advanced training courses on inclusive education increased from 1% (105) to 45% (2894) in the period of 2018-2022.
In the system of vocational education, 3 colleges (Ust-Kamenogorsk Service College, Glubokoe Technical College, Ust-Kamenogorsk Multidisciplinary College) provide inclusive education (149 students with special educational needs).
Glubokoe Technical College trains specialists in inclusive education in the specialty: Construction and operation of buildings and structures (Painter-plasterer, Bricklayer qualifications), including 47 students with disabilities.
Ust-Kamenogorsk Service College trains specialists in inclusive education in the following specialties: Computer technology and software (earning the qualification of Computer operator), Sewing production and clothing modeling (Designer-cutter qualification), Furniture production (qualification of Master of carpentry and furniture production), Hairdressing and decorative cosmetics (Hairdresser-fashion designer qualification), including 30 students with disabilities.
Ust-Kamenogorsk Multidisciplinary College trains specialists in the following specialties: Construction and operation of buildings and structures (qualifications of Plasterer, Joiner), Sewing production and clothing modeling (Designer-cutter qualification), where there are 72 students with disabilities.
Thus, to date, all the measures taken enabled to create conditions for inclusive education and upbringing in 100% of general education schools where children with special educational needs study.
In general, conditions have been created for all 6196 children in need of inclusive education.
Moreover, in order to eliminate the priority of children for receiving state services for rehabilitation and adaptation, we plan to open psychological and pedagogical education units in Altai town, Akzhar settlement of Tarbagatai district, Samar settlement Samar district, psychological, a medical and pedagogical consultation in Ust-Kamenogorsk city.
As a whole, there will be further efforts to ensure the full involvement of children in early correction and further improve the conditions for the education of children with special educational needs.