Reuters Alert, UK
Aug 11 2007
World Vision recommendations
10 Aug 2007 07:45:38 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Recommendations by World Vision Armenia effectively influenced
national legislation to improve integration of children with special
needs into mainstream education.
The legislation specifies the positions of specialists in pre-school
educational institutions and the qualifications those specialists
must have. It also stresses the importance of having both special
educators and a social educator-psychologist present in
kindergartens.
‘The presence of these specialists in the kindergartens is a real
advantage. This will mean that more measures will be taken to
identify children with special needs, and foster their development
and social integration,’ said Arthur Martirossyan, child protection
programme policy officer.
World Vision also contributed to the development of regulations on
the number of children with special needs in the inclusive
kindergarten groups. It defines a maximum of five to seven children
with special needs in a group – a pivotal step towards establishing
inclusive education in Armenia.
This success is the result of World Vision’s long-lasting cooperation
with the Special and Preschool Education Units of the Ministry of
Education and Science.
‘We want to multiply World Vision’s impact on children by advocating
for change in national legislation. World Vision has influenced 13
changes in legislation so far; changes that affect the lives of all
children in Armenia,’ said Mark Kelly, national director of World
Vision Armenia.
World Vision’s Child Protection Program will continue partnering with
government bodies and local stakeholders to broaden the inclusive
kindergarten network.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not
of Reuters. ]