The state allocated 37.2 million hryvnias for places to support preschoolers with special educational needs. The main goal is to help these children better socialize in society and give them maximum opportunities for development. This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science, Liliya Hrynevych, on July 19, 2019, during a press conference in Zaporizhzhia.
She also noted that Zaporizhzhia is a leader in the field of inclusive education, in particular, in kindergartens.
"I want to draw your attention to the fact that in 2019, for the first time, we allocated a subvention for inclusive education in preschool education. You are well aware that the Zaporizhzhia region is the flagship of the implementation of inclusion in educational institutions. And for the third year in a row, we had a subvention for inclusive education in schools, but we also have to help create an appropriate educational environment for children in other areas of education. And here is this subvention for preschool education - it amounted to over 37 million hryvnias this year. And I want to say that right here, in the Zaporizhia region, there are 138 children in inclusive education in preschool education, so that you understand, this is three times higher than the national indicator by region," said Liliya Hrynevych.
In total, in the 2018-2019 academic year, 2,359 children with special educational needs in Ukraine received preschool education in inclusive groups.
Today, in addition to the subvention for preschoolers with special educational needs, already:
– clear requirements for organizing inclusion have been developed;
- financing of additional classes is ensured;
- lists are provided from which equipment for a child with special educational needs can be selected and purchased at the expense of the state, so that his education is high-quality and comfortable.
"It is clear that the quality of implementation of inclusive education still needs work and improvement, but we are moving step by step. This is the only way to reach the big goal: that every child at school can socialize and learn in comfortable conditions," added the Minister.