Kyrgyzstan learns from Portugal's experience with inclusive education

A delegation from Kyrgyzstan is taking part in a study tour to Portugal, where Central Asian countries — Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan — are learning about the implementation of inclusive education.

Representing Kyrgyzstan on the trip are Deputy Minister of Education Nadir Dzhusupbekova, representatives of the Ministry of Social Protection, representatives of civil society organisations, the Council on Disability, a representative of the pre-university teacher training institute, a representative of the teacher training institute, and a representative of UNICEF.

The trip is organised by UNICEF and gives countries the opportunity to see how inclusive education works in practice, exchange experiences and identify common solutions that can strengthen reforms in the Central Asian region. The participants, who are experts and practitioners, visit schools, resource centres, and pre-school institutions and learn how different sectors — education, health, and social protection — work together to support every child.

Portugal was not chosen by chance. This country has gone from segregated education for children with disabilities to full inclusion. As early as 2008, a law was passed here that ensured the right of every child to attend a regular school. Special schools were transformed into resource centres, teacher training was strengthened, and work with children began to cover the entire life cycle — from early identification of developmental characteristics to support in the transition to vocational education and employment. This reform has yielded tangible results: the inclusive system has had a positive effect on all students, as confirmed by improved performance in international education quality studies, including PISA.

This visit is important for Kyrgyzstan because the country is in the process of actively developing inclusive education.

"We are reforming legislation, training teachers, introducing new approaches to working with children with special educational needs, and strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation. Portugal's experience will help us better understand how to build an effective support system, how to develop resource centres, how to organise early intervention, and how to provide quality assistance to children and their families at all stages of education", — said Deputy Minister of Education Nadira Jusupbekova.

Following the trip, the Kyrgyz delegation plans to identify practical steps that can be adapted to our conditions and expand cooperation with partners to accelerate the development of inclusive education in the country.