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Participants discussed about the challenges and successes of inclusive education in our country, about Moldova’s experience in comparison with other countries in the region, as well as about the need of broad and multidimensional coverage of this topic in mass media. UNICEF Representative Nune Mangasaryan spoke about the importance of inclusive education for society. According to her, 44% of children with disabilities in Moldova attend mainstream schools. Several years ago, only 18% of the children with disabilities enjoyed inclusive education. “If we want to become a society of equal people, we need to ensure full inclusion of children,” Nune Mangasaryan said.
In her turn, Deputy Minister of Education Nadia Cristea explained that school inclusion and children with disabilities are part of the education system and must be treated as such. She presented statistical data about school inclusion and said that the ministry makes efforts to facilitate the access of children with disabilities to educational institutions.
At the same time, experts and civil society representatives suggested the journalists who write about these topics to avoid clichés, such as “children stricken by fate”, and not to treat children with disabilities as victims, but to highlight their best qualities. “Why do you think that Moldova can’t have a Stevie Wonder? Why losing this potential? Let’s grow talents and not lose them,” Nune Mangasaryan concluded.
The journalists that attended the event were also interested in the availability of access ramps in schools. In addition, they wanted to know about the challenges of the teachers who have children with disabilities in their classes and what can be done to change the society’s mindset and to ensure educational inclusion.
The event took place with the support of the United Nations in Moldova.
