Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer stated that for the first time, they have prepared an action plan that presents a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of inclusive education in order to support the education processes of children with special education needs, strengthen their adaptation to life and alleviate the financial and moral burden on parents.
In a statement on the subject, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer stated that every child has the right to equal access to education and that they are working to increase equal opportunities in this context.
Commenting on the activities carried out to support the education processes of children in need of special education on the occasion of the 3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Minister Özer said: “As the Ministry, we continue to support our special children at all times. It is very important in terms of equality of opportunity that our children with special education needs receive education in the same schools as their peers through inclusion/integration. In this context, as the Ministry, we organize a wide range of educational activities to contribute to the social and professional development of our children in need of special education in order to promote equality of opportunity in education and to strengthen each individual's equal access to education. In Turkey, our students with special education needs benefit from inclusion/integration, special education classes, special education schools, special education schools with hostels, as well as special education services at home and in the hospital. In this framework, 334 thousand 366 students continue their education through integration/integration and 79 thousand 832 students continue their education in special education classes in our country. In addition, 60 thousand of our students with special education needs are educated at special education schools, and 10 thousand 578 of our students are educated at home. Within the scope of mainstreaming/integration education, we also provide education opportunities to our students in 12 support education rooms where our special education students can receive individual education in the areas they need. 189 students benefit from the education service at the hospital. Our special education school with 993 boarding houses also serves our students. In order to contribute to the education of our special children, we, as the Ministry, broke new ground and prepared the “National Action Plan for Educational Practices Through Inclusion / Integration” to be implemented in 34-2022.”
Minister Özer stated that prior to the action plan, field research was conducted to determine the situation by cooperating with all stakeholders on how to monitor and evaluate educational practices through inclusion/integration across the country, and surveys were conducted with students, families, teachers and school administrators.
In this context, Özer stated that they established a commission within the Ministry, and gave the following information: "Within the scope of the field research implemented throughout Turkey, 6 thousand 871 special education students studying at high school, 79 thousand 227 parents, 44 working at all levels, within the scope of inclusive education practices. 176 teachers and 10 school administrators attended. We analyzed the data from the field survey. We re-evaluated the draft of our 'National Action Plan on Educational Practices Through Inclusion/Integration', which we created as a result of our studies, with our internal and external stakeholders.”
For the first time, a national action plan was prepared
Pointing out that the “National Action Plan for Educational Practices through Inclusion/Integration”, which was prepared after all the studies, is a first in this field, Minister Özer said, “It is the first time to support the education processes of children with special education needs, strengthen their adaptation to life and alleviate the financial and moral burden on parents. We have prepared an action plan that provides a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of education through inclusion/integration. With the action plan, we expand the scope of our education services to students who receive education within the scope of education practices through inclusion/integration by increasing cooperation in practices at the national level. With the action plan, we will develop and disseminate examples of good practices in this field throughout the country.
In addition, we will improve our education services offered by increasing the professional equipment of teachers and school administrators for inclusion/integration education practices and supporting families.” he said.
Four policy areas
The national action plan prepared as a result of the studies carried out; Noting that it consists of four policy areas, "Access to Education", "Increasing the Quality in Education and Training", "Raising Awareness and Attitude" and "Legal Regulations", 19 action items and 51 indicators, Özer said, "With the action plan, students with special education needs We aim to increase the quality of education services offered throughout the country and to create a trackable and auditable system.” made its assessment.
To reach the national action plan Click here.
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