Inclusive education moves beyond kindergarten to elementary school in Georgia
The exhibition was organised by World Vision’s ‘Inclusive and Integrative Education Model for Children with Disabilities’ project together with the Centre of Education, Employment and Development.
“My friends and I painted a lot of flowers to mark the beginning of spring, I love drawing and I like that lots of people look at it now - I will draw more and more in the future,” said 11-year-old Sergo who has studied at the integrated school opened by World Vision in October 2009. Other integrated classes were simultaneously opened in Tbilisi and Batumi schools.
Going to school and participating in different events is a real occasion for my child. These past five months have changed her a lot, she has become more open and joyful Integrated classes have been adapted to accommodate children with various disabilities and abilities. Three integrated kindergartens opened in Kutaisi, Batumi and Tbilisi served as models for the integrated classrooms and currently 30 children with disabilities study in three schools.
It’s a humble beginning, but up until now there has been no integrated education model in Georgia and children with disabilities have been physically and mentally isolated due to the lack of services contributing to their integration The government of Georgia, with the support of child-focused organisations like World Vision, is striving to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities into society and minimize the abandonment of children with disabilities by families.
“World Vision, being an organisation focused on children and youth problems, accumulated significant experience in projects related to children with disabilities. We aim to support integration of children with disabilities in their communities and the opening of integrated classes in elementary schools helps children not only to receive education but also be part of the community“, said project manager, Marina Mchedlishvili.
The integrated classes organise various activities and events to help children express their emotions, learn and make friends. In this instance, children from different schools participated in the exhibition and children received certificates of participation.
“Going to school and participating in different events is a real occasion for my child. These past five months have changed her a lot, she has become more open and joyful,” said Megi, mother of 13-year-old Vika, who opened the exhibition with her beautiful song.
“We arrange this type of events usually for the integration process and the involvement of children with disabilities in different events is very important as it stimulates them, and they are more motivated and happy”, said Lali Tskhvediani one of the participating teachers.
-Ends-
“My friends and I painted a lot of flowers to mark the beginning of spring, I love drawing and I like that lots of people look at it now - I will draw more and more in the future,” said 11-year-old Sergo who has studied at the integrated school opened by World Vision in October 2009. Other integrated classes were simultaneously opened in Tbilisi and Batumi schools.
Going to school and participating in different events is a real occasion for my child. These past five months have changed her a lot, she has become more open and joyful Integrated classes have been adapted to accommodate children with various disabilities and abilities. Three integrated kindergartens opened in Kutaisi, Batumi and Tbilisi served as models for the integrated classrooms and currently 30 children with disabilities study in three schools.
It’s a humble beginning, but up until now there has been no integrated education model in Georgia and children with disabilities have been physically and mentally isolated due to the lack of services contributing to their integration The government of Georgia, with the support of child-focused organisations like World Vision, is striving to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities into society and minimize the abandonment of children with disabilities by families.
“World Vision, being an organisation focused on children and youth problems, accumulated significant experience in projects related to children with disabilities. We aim to support integration of children with disabilities in their communities and the opening of integrated classes in elementary schools helps children not only to receive education but also be part of the community“, said project manager, Marina Mchedlishvili.
The integrated classes organise various activities and events to help children express their emotions, learn and make friends. In this instance, children from different schools participated in the exhibition and children received certificates of participation.
“Going to school and participating in different events is a real occasion for my child. These past five months have changed her a lot, she has become more open and joyful,” said Megi, mother of 13-year-old Vika, who opened the exhibition with her beautiful song.
“We arrange this type of events usually for the integration process and the involvement of children with disabilities in different events is very important as it stimulates them, and they are more motivated and happy”, said Lali Tskhvediani one of the participating teachers.
-Ends-
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