“Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities: examples from Central and Eastern Europe and CIS region”

Statement of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN

Distinguished delegates,

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank UNICEF and its Executive Board for this timely organized discussion. I am sure that this event will definitely boost the process of preparations to the UN High-level meeting on persons with disabilities in September later this year to attract attention of delegations of the 68-th General Assembly session.

I am sure that you will share my points of view that family`s welfare and children`s future are the most precious things for every parent. In this regard children with disabilities should always be a very special category within the country`s population. I have been listening to the distinguished key-note speakers and realized that their national governments tend to tackle these challenges, though it is mostly not an easy task to do.

Ukraine is not an exception either. There are more than 160 thousands young persons in Ukraine under age of 18 are those, who we identify as children with disabilities. There are different kinds of definitions of what we call disabilities. Ukraine during the decades has developed its own medical and social standards on children with disabilities, which however may differ from the practices of other countries. Nevertheless Ukrainian governmental bodies with the support of the international organizations, NGOs and social funds take an active part in the ongoing process of improvements and development of the national health care system for persons with special needs, as well as implementation of the inclusive education.

Recently the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine has developed and distributed for the overall implementation the new Strategy on reforming the children psychiatric service. The experts emphasize that there are still many obstacles to tackle down, because year-to-year we are getting more children with psycho-physical disorders. It was estimated that every fifth child in Ukraine may need to have a special psychiatric consultations.

According to the innovations in healthcare and educational system in 2013 Ukrainian children with disabilities obtained the right to choose and attend public primary schools along with other children. Their parents or trustees could be present during the lectures to assist the teachers and children.

For these needs special tables and benches should be provided. Moreover, since January 2013 the Ministry of education introduced the mandatory annual medical checkup in every primary and senior educational institution. It means that 20 thousands schools and around 5 million pupils in Ukraine will receive special medical attention. Nowadays the Ministry of Healthcare and the Ministry of Education work together on the official documents to introduce the methods and tests for independent evaluation for children, who receive inclusive education. In 2012 Ukrainian primary public schools has successfully undergone the inclusive education project for children with special needs.

In order to conclude I would like to note that inclusive education for children with disabilities needs to be adopted throughout Ukraine in order to observe the results and evaluate progress.

I am happy to emphasize that Ukraine follows the current international tendencies and standards within children`s education and this year in my country pupils with disabilities will enjoy the right to study together with their sound colleagues, however specialized classes and specialized schools will stay in operation. 

 I know that in 2012 Ukrainian government and UNICEF have started New country program till 2016 focusing on four components, still this particular issue on inclusive policy may need special attention as well.

Being a good partner to UNICEF, as well as the State Party to the Convention on Disabilities and Convention on the Rights of Child Ukraine will support the issues on inclusive policy for children with disabilities as a sub-item for the post-2015 UN Agenda and possible SDGs. 

Thank you.