Development of inclusive education in the country and the world

Scientists of the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of Abai KazNPU took part in the International Conference "Modern methods and Solutions for inclusive Education", held on March 6, 2024 in Almaty. The key issues of the development of inclusive education in Kazakhstan and beyond were touched upon. The program of the event included a discussion of modern approaches and techniques, as well as an analysis of world practices and successful strategies in this area.

The participants of the event presented a wide range of educational institutions and educational authorities. Among them are heads, deputies, chief specialists of educational departments and methodological centers, school principals, methodologists, teachers, defectologists and psychologists from different regions: Almaty and Almaty region, Astana, Akmola, Aktobe, East Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Turkestan and other regions. The event highlighted the importance of inclusive and special education, bringing together experts to share knowledge and experience in this field. The total number of participants actively participating in the discussions and sessions reflects the high interest and dedication to education at all levels.

Mikhail Kalitkin, an international expert at Unowa/MIKKO (Ukraine-Poland), noted the importance of creating an effective education system capable of adapting to the needs of each student. "This conference is a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, which is extremely important for the development of inclusive education. We see how the world is moving forward in this direction, and it is important for us to use this experience to improve the education system in Kazakhstan", he said. Mikhail also demonstrated the inclusion cabinet, developed as part of a project by the World Bank and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Karlygash Zholdasova reviewed the activities of the project "Modernization of Secondary Education" of the EOM and the World Bank, emphasizing that the modernization of secondary education in Kazakhstan is a key element in the development of inclusive education.

Alina Melnik (Ireland) shared the world practices of accompanying students with the PLO, saying that "the approach to each student should be individualized, and teamwork plays a critical role in this." She reviewed the inclusion systems of the USA, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Finland and stressed the importance of using international best practices to successfully build inclusive education in Kazakhstan.

Olga Stadnik (Poland - centers for children with OOP A-Vector) discussed typical problems and their solutions in inclusive education, noting that "overcoming barriers in inclusive education requires creative thinking and adaptation of teaching methods." Approaches and practical cases that can be quickly and effectively implemented into the education system of Kazakhstan were demonstrated.

Zuhra Izmailova-Kamar (Canada) presented an applied analysis of ABA behavior as the basis for psychological and pedagogical support for students, emphasizing that "ABA techniques can significantly improve the educational process for children with OOP by providing them with a more individualized approach to learning".

Special attention was paid not only to reviewing current achievements, but also to identifying typical problems faced by educational institutions in implementing inclusive programs and finding solutions to them.

The participants of the event were interested in the results of research by scientists of KazNPU named after Abai, as well as special methodological manuals on inclusive education presented at the conference.

The relevance of the topic discussed at the conference underlines the deep interest and involvement of the participants. The possibility of applying the acquired knowledge in the field of education of children with special educational needs in practice has caused a significant response among specialists.

The event, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Project Management Group "Modernization of Secondary Education", also supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, leading pedagogical universities of the country, became a vivid example of the desire to improve the education system and emphasizes the need for joint efforts in the development of inclusive education at the state level.