The general objective of
Project SMILE is to transfer and scale up the first
Bulgarian Model for Inclusive School Environment, which offers the innovative and systematic approach to inclusion, where school principals and parents are integral part of the process for inclusion.
The project SMILE ,“Scaling up the Model for Inclusive Learning in Europe” is supported by the European Commission under the current
Erasmus+ programme. It will be implemented within 3 years in the period 31.01.2019 – 30.01.2022 by
Centre for Inclusive Education (Bulgaria), ARCIL (Portugal), Four ELEMENTS (Greece) and
Fundatia EuroEd (Romania). Leading partner of the project is Centre for Inclusive Education.
The project encourages the development of inclusive school environment in Europe by scaling up the
Model ‘One School for All’ in partner countries. A total of 9 school teams will be trained and will apply the Model to the example of their colleagues in Bulgaria.
In addition, the
‘Introduction into Inclusive Education’ online learning course will be translated into English and will have open access for users in Europe which will help us promoting inclusive education through trainings and change of attitudes of leaders in education.
The Model for Inclusive School Environment was developed by
Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) in partnership with five schools in order to implement and scale up inclusive policies, practices and culture at school. After its creation, CIE implemented the Model in another 10 partner schools in order to test its applicability in different school environments, further advance it and demonstrate its effectiveness.
The inclusive educational model offers a multifaceted and continuous process that helps modernize the school as a system - attitudes, management, teaching-learning practices and development of sustainable policies and partnerships with actors connected to the school.
The specific objective of project SMILE is to support teachers and leaders of educational institutions to address the diverse needs of all learners through introducing systemic change at school level in partnership with knowledgeable local NGOs – local multipliers which have experience in the educational sphere.
The partner organizations will adapt the good practice to the local contexts and needs and will prepare it for future scaling up in the partner countries and at EU level. Common principles and approaches that are overarching the European contexts will be identified. A common ground in inclusive education, which bypasses the limitations and restrictions of national frameworks will be created.
The application of the Model will support school teams in 9 schools and will result in better prepared teachers and principals and improved inclusive environment in these schools.
Three partner organizations will be prepared to assist the 9 schools in the process and support future scale up the good practice in other schools in the respective countries.
The promotion of the good practice on European level through the e-learning course, part of the good practice, will create solid conditions for increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of the practice in particular and of inclusive education in general, among stakeholders in EU.
