Volodymyr Groysman: We must ensure development of inclusive education

Both central and local governments must undertake further decisive steps to ensure the development of inclusive education and improvement of quality of education for orphaned children and children deprived of parental care, assures Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman. He accentuated that at a meeting of the National Council of Reforms, under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, devoted to education sector on Friday.

"We need to take resolute steps, particularly in cooperation with local authorities to provide inclusive education", Volodymyr Groysman stressed and reminded that at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for the first time as a means of educational subsidy there had been budgeted in 2017 the sum worth UAH 209 million to support inclusive education.

"This is only the beginning, because we understand that it is vital to create normal conditions for the child to adapt, to obtain knowledge, to get access to normal environment. We are well aware of special needs these children require, and our goal is to satisfy these needs with everything necessary", said the Head of Government.

In this regard, Prime Minister thanked President's wife Maryna Poroshenko for she is pursuing this matter and assured that the Government would further support initiatives aimed at building inclusive environment in the country.

Separately, he noted that the Government in synergy with the civil society was working to create appropriate conditions to guarantee the upbringing of children-orphans and children deprived of parental care.

Only in 2016, the number of children in inclusive groups all across the country increased to 4180 children which means the only thing: the process of establishment an inclusive environment has triggered, emphasized Volodymyr Groysman.

"There are still a lot of such kids in the country, but we must take care of all of them and create normal conditions for them, in particular their education and development”, stressed the Prime Minister. “It is clear that we should left residential schools behind, to abandon the system that oppresses children, deprives them of understanding that they are brought up in a friendly environment of either foster families, parents, or family-type children’s homes".