The Development of Pre-school Education: Investment in the Future Inclusive Pre-school Education in the Republic of Moldova: Results, Challenges and Priorities Cara Angela, Ph.D. in education October, Minsk,2015

МОДЕЛИ ИНКЛЮЗИВНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ Разные отправные точки… 2 EDUCATION FOR ALL Intersectoral cooperation Access to quality Education for All Children Teacher Education and Training Legal and normative framework Funding mechanisms

Data on Pre-school age children Total number of pre-schools institutions – 1453 Total number of children in pre- schools institutions – 147,7 thousand children Enrollment rate in preschool institutions - 83,9%. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova,

Results

Source: National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, ,

Legal Framework Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. National Strategy – Education for All for the 2004 – Inclusive Education Development Program in the Republic of Moldova for the years

7 Children with disabilities Children from minority ethnic groups Children deprived of parental care Children from socially vulnerable families Child abuse Inclusive Education Policy

Education Code of the Republic of Moldova Article 25 of the Education Code of the Republic of Moldova: (1) The preschool institutions shall compulsorily enroll, without any contest, all children from the appropriate school district, who wish to attend the respective institution. (2) The state shall incur the costs for the preschool education and care services for all children, including for those with special educational needs.

The referral pathways 9 Social sector Determining the degree of disability. The National Council for Determining Disability and Work Capacity. Education Psycho-Pedagogical Services. Identification of special educational needs. Health sector Identification Screening, family doctors, Maternity homes ! Early identification and interventions The Psycho-Pedagogical Services

The Road Map of Inclusion of children Initial Assesment of child Pre-school Institution Psycho-Pedagogical assessment. Identification of special educational needs. Psycho- Pedagogical Services Education and Assistanc e Programs Pre-school Institution

Funding mechanisms Плановая реформирование системы интернатного типа Обеспечение качества предоставляемых услуг в учреждении Приказ Министра Образования,2012 о реформирование системы интернатного типа ПОСТАНОВЛЕНИЕ Nr. 432 от об утверждении Минимальных стандартов качества по уходу, воспитанию и социализации детей в учреждениях интернатского типа Перенаправление финансовых ресурсов из учреждений интернатного типа в службы местных сообществ Внедрение инклюзивного образования Регламент о перераспределении финансовых ресурсов в рамках реформы учреждений- интернатов (Постановление Правительства №351 от 29 мая 2012). Минимальный пакет услуг инклюзивного образования Поддерживающие структуры / службы Reform of the residential care system Minimum package of inclusive education services Regulation on redirection of funds in the residential care system reform (Government Decision No. 351 of 29 May 2012). Psycho-Pedagogical Services Resource Centre for Inclusive Education Support/Inclusive Education Teachers

Teaching staff 1.Introducing of the additional teacher staff. 2.Position of the support teacher was introdused in the Classification of Occupations of the Republic of Moldova. 3. Revision of the Programs for teacher-training. 3. Since 2012, the Inclusive Education Module was implemented in teacher-training colleges and universities. 4.Capacity building of the didactic and administrative staff from preschool institutions in issues related to inclusive education.

Partners in the Implementation and development of Inclusive Education Ministries: of Education, of Finance, of Labour, Social Protection, and FamilyMinistries: of Education, of Finance, of Labour, Social Protection, and Family UNICEFUNICEF World BankWorld Bank Moldova Social Investment FundMoldova Social Investment Fund Step by Step,Keystone,Lumos,NGOs: Step by Step,Keystone,Lumos, LPALPA Projects: Education for All - Fast Track Initiative ( ). Global Partnership for Education, ( ).

Main results of the Project for the years pre-school institutions renovated with the support of the Project. 21 Community Centres renovated with the support of LPAs and endowed as part of the project. 4 Rehabilitation Centres opened for children with special needs. 4 Rehabilitation Centres endowed with special equipment and vehicles. Global Partnership for Education. Project in Moldova

Social mobilization Campaign Helping the Child become a Great Personality Creation and Training of 82 community teams constituted of 425 community agents. Ensuring communication between parents and their fellow-villagers with a view to enrolling children from disadvantaged families in preschool education programmes children from disadvantaged families have been enrolled in preschool education programmes. Helping the Child become a Great Personality

Publications

Access Access rate to pre-school education programs had increased by 13,3 %: 84% in 2014 as compared to 70,7% in % of children with special education needs went to the kindergarten in 2014 as compared to 1,8% in

Quality 93% of parents stated in 2014 that their children were happy to go to the kindergarten. 79,6% of educators apply child-centered methodology.

Communication and social partnerships 40% of parents accepted, during 2014, children with special education needs in kindergartens along with their kids as compared to only 5,2 % in

Challenges 1. Difficulty to recruit young teachers. 2. Insufficient competence of managers, educator’s of preschool institutions in the identification of children with special education needs. 3. Lack of parental knowledge and skills, especially among the most vulnerable.

Priorities 1.Adequacy /adaptation of the physical environment of preschool institutions to the needs of children with special educational needs. 2. Reduce the number of children in those groups attended by children with special educational needs. 3. Elaboration of a mechanism for data collecting on children with special educational needs of pre-school age.

Priorities 4. Development of a country-wide methodology of continuity between pre-school and primary education. 5. Training of managers of preschool instituions on planning and execution of budget of pre-school institution. 6. Implementing of the parenting education policy.

Peace Makers: The 13 Grandmothers Council Where shall we start?

Thank you!