Centre for Inclusive Education organized its Annual International conference “Inclusive Education through the Experience of Teachers and Principals” on December 10th, 2016. The one day event was held in Hall 6 of National Palace of Culture and united 350 teachers, principals and professionals, working with children.
The conference was opened by Dian Stamatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Cor Meijer, Director of European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Maria Jesus Conde, UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria and Stanislava Staneva, Programme Officer Education and Libraries at America for Bulgaria Foundation.
Dian Stamatov and Cor Meijer announced during their speeches that as of January 2017 Bulgaria becomes member of the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education.
The event was organized with the support of
America for Bulgaria Foundation and
UNICEF Bulgaria.
The conference united the Bulgarian and International experience in one common discussion how inclusive education happens in practice. Cor Maijer and Anthoula Kefallinou from the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education presented the process of inclusion in Europe. Joao Dias, Rehabilitaition Services Director at the Portugal organisation ARCIL focused on good practices of cooperation between professionals and general school teachers in the classroom. Erin McRaith, educational specialist in the creation of strategies for professional development of teachers and pedagogue with long international experience in the work with children at risk talked about the personal and professional development of teachers.
The ensuing discussion panels traced out how inclusion happens in practice in Bulgarian schools and kindergartens. Through the prism of CIE’s Model for organisation of school processes and building of inclusive school environment: teaching practices, school leadership, child safeguarding and family partnership were presented best practices. The last panel was dedicated to the state standard for inclusive education, its explanation and application.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to visit exhibition of educational organisations, which presented useful materials and practices for teachers and specialists.
A picture galllery of the event is available
here.
