Starting from the coming school year Shirak region will pass to overall inclusion. Till that a study was conducted in 12 schools of the region within the framework of “Community Action for Full Inclusion in Education” project. On February 22 the project closing conference was organized in Gyumri Technological Center with participation of the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Świtalski, Member of Parliament Sophia Hovsepyan, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Lusine Arakelyan, Shirak Governor Tigran Petrosyan, Deputy Mayor Ruben Sanoyan, etc.

The conference was opened by the song “We are all equal” prepared by the students of Artik school N1. The spiritual consultant of Armenian Caritas Fr. Joseph Galstyan delivered an opening speech and Lord’s prayer. He also conveyed the greetings of AC president Fr. Raphael Minassian “Armenian Caritas and NASPCM are now analyzing the results of their joint activities since 2017, which were succeeded with God’s blessings and the efforts of the staff. These achievements are visible and they promote new ways of thinking and attitude within the society, amendments in the field of inclusive education, as well as the comprehensive development of individuals.

ny human being is a great value for God regardless of their abilities or disabilities, wishes or dreams, faith or indifference. So, the appropriate conditions for the realization of the right to education, which ensures the development of an individual is of high importance for the Church. This is one of the main visions of the Catholic Social Teaching which is based on the principle of the respect of everyone’s dignity, as any human being is a unique creation of the God.

Armenian Caritas, as the main expression of the Christian social mission, follows this principle in all its projects including this one, which promotes inclusive education and strengthening of the people with disabilities”, – Fr. Joseph Galstyan said.
Armenian Caritas and NASPCM have conducted a research in 12 target schools within the project funded by the European Union, Austrian Development Cooperation and Caritas Austria. The study is based on certain cases. “The overall aim of this project lunched in 2017 was to identify children with disabilities out of education and ensure their right to education. Since the beginning of this project reforms in the field of inclusive education were started at schools aiming to make the education accessible for all. During the two years of project implementation new tools ways were developed for ensuring quality inclusive education for all”, – project manager Gayane Norikyan told.

The project staff is leaded by the “Index for Inclusion” international toolkit, which supports the school on the way to become inclusive. As the result of two-year activities it became obvious that still a huge work should be done in order to include children with disabilities in mainstream school, as well as to shape an appropriate attitude of the society.
Member of Parliament of the RA Sophia Hovsepyan and Deputy Minister of Education and Science Lusine Arakelyan also shared with their examples and experience. S. Hovsepyan called everyone to voice about the equal rights of people with disabilities, their right to education so that to make positive changes possible.
As Piotr Świtalski mentioned in his speech, European Union is ready to support the Government of the RA in implementing similar reforms in education.
“This topic is very important for us. As EU we highlight the issue of inclusive education and the opportunities for the people with disabilities. When my son went to school 25 years ago, the school passed to inclusive education, so in each class 4-5 children with disabilities would study. The parents were against mentioning that it would decrease the quality of education of their children. It was many years ago, but now no parent in Europe is against inclusive education. It is very important for the EU to support the Government of the RA”, – Piotr Świtalski said.

“For a long period of time children with disabilities and special need were excluded from the society and were closed in special institutes. The society also didn’t have the opportunity to get acquainted and contact with them. Today we should be open for these children”,-Lusine Arakelyan told. At the same time she mentioned that the Ministry of Education and Science will implement trainings for teachers to make the process of overall inclusion more effective.
At the end of the conference the presentation of “Index for Inclusion” toolkit was held.