Newsroom
OSCE organizes roundtables on equal access to education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 16 October 2003
SARAJEVO, 16 October 2003 - The right of children with special needs to enjoy equal education free from discrimination was one of the key points discussed at an OSCE-organized series of roundtables in Bosnia and Herzegovina that ended today.
"The framework law on primary and secondary education states that every child has an equal right of access and to participate in education, without discrimination on any grounds", said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Children must be provided with an education that will ensure development of their mental, physical and moral capabilities."
The right of every child to be an equal member of the community, sharing normal life experiences with family, neighbours and peers, as well as the right to quality education in the nearest mainstream school, was one of the main principles discussed at the roundtable meetings.
The participants concluded that educating children with special needs in regular schools should develop an awareness among society that differences between people are normal and that inclusive education could contribute to the development of a fairer society, where everybody would be valued according to his or her abilities, regardless of differences.
Vasilija Veljkovic, representative of the local non-governmental organization, Duga, which co-organized the roundtables said: "The integration of children with special needs into regular schools means far more than merely placing them in regular classrooms. This is a process that requires consistent and planned co-operation between teachers, speech pathologists, defectologists and parents.
"All stakeholders should jointly develop adjusted and individualized learning programmes for children, so that regular schools will be able to provide conditions for all children to succeed in the classroom", she added.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina encourages schools to open their doors to all children regardless of their differences. By making it possible for students with special needs to work side-by-side with their peers, children will be able to develop the skills necessary to live and work beyond the classroom.
A working group on inclusive education will be developing plans to improve this aspect of education in order to assist with the full implementation of the goals cited in pledges 1 and 2 of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Education Reform Strategy.
"The framework law on primary and secondary education states that every child has an equal right of access and to participate in education, without discrimination on any grounds", said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Children must be provided with an education that will ensure development of their mental, physical and moral capabilities."
The right of every child to be an equal member of the community, sharing normal life experiences with family, neighbours and peers, as well as the right to quality education in the nearest mainstream school, was one of the main principles discussed at the roundtable meetings.
The participants concluded that educating children with special needs in regular schools should develop an awareness among society that differences between people are normal and that inclusive education could contribute to the development of a fairer society, where everybody would be valued according to his or her abilities, regardless of differences.
Vasilija Veljkovic, representative of the local non-governmental organization, Duga, which co-organized the roundtables said: "The integration of children with special needs into regular schools means far more than merely placing them in regular classrooms. This is a process that requires consistent and planned co-operation between teachers, speech pathologists, defectologists and parents.
"All stakeholders should jointly develop adjusted and individualized learning programmes for children, so that regular schools will be able to provide conditions for all children to succeed in the classroom", she added.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina encourages schools to open their doors to all children regardless of their differences. By making it possible for students with special needs to work side-by-side with their peers, children will be able to develop the skills necessary to live and work beyond the classroom.
A working group on inclusive education will be developing plans to improve this aspect of education in order to assist with the full implementation of the goals cited in pledges 1 and 2 of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Education Reform Strategy.