“Living Together, Learning Together”

The project aims to better ensure and promote the rights of children with disabilities and Special Educational Needs to inclusive education and community life, through improved capacity of 50 schools, local structures and services, building a replicable model of an ”Inclusive Marz”.

The project plans to enhance universal access to quality education for children with disabilities and special needs in Armenia and protect their equal rights to education and social participation.

The project is a contribution towards creating equal opportunities for children with disabilities and special educational needs to enjoy and practice their equal rights to education and lead an active and dignified life in their respective communities. It is built on recent progress in developing inclusive education in Armenia, notably via previous /current Danida-funded initiatives implemented by Mission East and Bridge of Hope which have lead to significant changes in the potential for national inclusive education. These include the development and official approval of appropriate curricula for children with learning difficulties, teacher-training packages, training of teachers via cascade model of training, introduction of inclusive education theory in the courses the State Pedagogical University education program, improved public awareness of disability issues, development of parent support groups, legislative changes to ensure the legal right to education for persons with special needs, and the initial recognition of a number of inclusive schools. This proposed project aims to lay the ground for reaping the potential of these important changes on a national level in the future by creating a replicable model of comprehensive approach to inclusive education on a Marz level. The model will be documented and is envisaged to be later applied to other regions of the country.

Expected results during the project period and indicators for measuring results:
Promotion of the right of children with disabilities and Special Educational Needs to equal educational opportunity via the development and testing of a replicable inclusive education model in Tavush region of Armenia

Indicators measuring the result

- Children with disabilities and Special Educational Needs are identified and assessed by existing structures and services and enrolled in education system of Tavush Marz.
- Rights of children with disabilities and Special Educational Needs protected by legislation
- Allocation of additional funds from state budget to 50 schools of Tavush region.
- Increased involvement of parents in advocacy of their children’s rights.

The project is developed on school, community/Marz and national levels and aims to improve the capacities of all respective institutions to work towards the social inclusion of all children who face or are at risk of exclusion.

School level

On this level the project aims to equip teachers and school administrators to organize their schools and their teaching to meet the educational needs of all children. Its rationale is that teachers should be able to respond to the diversity of educational needs in the classroom; it recognizes the need for significant shifts in the teachers' attitudes to teaching and learning if this aim is to be met. 1600 teachers and principles will be trained in inclusive education concept, strategy, needs assessment, curriculum adaptations and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), child-centered teaching methods and constructivism (an approach to teaching children with special needs which is new to Armenia, recently introduced by Mission East and Bridge of Hope education projects as part of the reforms of the special and inclusive education sector) and team work. 50 schools will gain official status of “inclusive schools” and will get additional funds from the state budget to support psycho-pedagogical (PP) services at schools (as per Armenian law, all children with learning difficulties will undergo psycho-pedagogical assessment in special service centers and/or in schools to identify their special educational needs).
Inclusive Education quality standards and evaluation will equip the staff in 50 schools with mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing participation and achievement of children linking the process of monitoring to the curriculum..
Parents will be empowered to be involved in discussing their children's learning and have a decision-making role in educational issues concerning their children.
Psycho-social pedagogical teams will be developed and strengthened to gain a coordinating role at schools particularly in relation to school-based activities and school/parent relations.

Community/Marz level

On this level the project seeks to consolidate the existing experience and lessons learnt and identify the gaps that have become obstacles for comprehensive and coordinated approach to the needs of children that face difficulties, neglect and social exclusion because of their disabilities/Special Educational Needs and various psycho-social and economical hardships and suggest strategies and clear mechanism for coordinated support systems.
Relevant authorities of the community/Marz will be supported to improve their capacities and be granted tools to identify and register children with Special Educational Needs as well as to make referrals and follow ups to schools and services. A clear mechanism will be developed for the flow of information between responsible structures about Special Educational Needs children and their education.
Bridge of Hope’s four Psycho-Social and Pedagogical (PSP) mainstream centers in 4 regions of Tavush Marz will be supported to improve the quality of their services and capacities for special educational needs.
Disability Advocacy Coalition (DAC) of NGOs established with support of Mission East TEFA and “Healthy Start” projects will support civil society organizations in the Marz to build their advocacy skills and knowledge. This will enable them to act as partners of parents of children with disabilities to be organized in advocacy groups in 4 regions of the Marz and to become empowered to take a leadership role in advocacy of the rights of children with disabilities to education and dignified life. Bridge of Hope centers in regional centers of Dilijan, Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberyan have functioning parent support groups that are members of National Network of Parents (NNOP) established with support of TEFA project. Leaders of these groups will transfer their experience to parents living in rural communities and will mobilize them into parents’ groups. PSP mainstream centers will be source of support and counseling for Parent’s Advocacy Groups to conduct advocacy campaigns and change attitude of their communities, decision makers, service providers and schools towards persons with disabilities.
Being realized in one Marz, the project will propose a replicable model and will demonstrate working mechanisms facilitating cooperation and partnership between schools, community members, structures, services, civil society organizations and families to support proper inclusion.

National level

On national level the project will create clear mechanism for Special Educational Needs assessment and will build the capacities of Ministry of Education and Science Special Education Needs Assessment Center (SENAC) to effectively support and coordinate Special Educational Needs Assessment services at school and community levels in Armenia.
Ministry of Education and Science will be supported to have Inclusive Education Quality Standards linked to curriculum and child participation, as well as tools measuring the success.
All trainers of National Institute of Education will receive Training of Trainers (TOTs) in all aspects of Inclusive Education with a perspective to continue training of teachers working in schools of other Marzes of Armenia.
The findings and recommendations documented by project staff, experts and consultants will make basis for drafting a package of legislative amendments supporting the sustainable development of inclusive education in Armenia and ensuring that the rights of children with disabilities and Special Educational Needs are protected on community and Marz levels through clear policies and procedures.