STATE AND PUBLIC MECHANISMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN UKRAINE (1990–2020)

Abstract

The article analyzes the state-public mechanisms for the development of inclusive education in Ukraine for the period 1990-2020. In the 1990s, there was inertia on the part of state institutions in deciding to implement inclusive education. For a long time, Ukraine was limited to implementing only state programs («Children of Ukraine», «Long-term Program for the Advancement of Women, Family, Maternal and Child Welfare», «State National Program «Education» (Ukraine of the 21st Century)», etc.. In fact, in 2011 inclusive education was introduced in Ukrainian schools when the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved Decree No. 872 of August 15, 2011. Since then, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has been pursuing an active policy of developing inclusive education, publishing educational and methodological literature on the topic. The author of the article distinguishes three periods of the development of inclusive education in Ukraine during its independence. The first (1990-2001), when there is a slowdown, moderation of the state’s actions in introducing declarative changes in the country's legislation; considerable attention is paid to the implementation of state programs to support children. The second period (2001-2010) begins with the general project work of the All-Ukrainian Fund «Step by Step», the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Institute of Special Education of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine; it concludes with the approval of the «Concept for the Development of Inclusive Education». In terms of the development of an inclusive educational environment, the work of many public organizations and foundations on the formation of philosophy of inclusion and the formation of a social ground for the introduction of inclusive education was fruitful. The third period (2011-2020) is characterized by excessive attention of the state, various institutions, teachers, the public to the problems of inclusive education for people with special needs, as well as informing the population through the media about achievements in the field of inclusive education. The implementation of inclusive education in Ukraine is supported in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine by the International Fund «Renaissance», «Open Society Foundation», All-Ukrainian Fund «Step by Step», «Inclusion Support Network. School for All», «Poroshenko Charity Foundation», etc. Joint initiatives are aimed at introducing inclusive education and creating a positive environment for the perception of inclusion of people with impaired psychophysical development.