INFORMATION ON JFPR 9091-UZB “BASIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS” ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GRANT PROJECT
According to the letter of agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Asian Development Bank (ADB) dated May 26, 2006 the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan has obtained the grant of Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to implement “Basic education for children with special needs” pilot project in Uzbekistan.
The Grant will target 18 schools: 6 special needs education schools and 12 general schools in the regions of Tashkent city, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya oblasts. The list of public schools will be decided using a participatory approach.
The Grant aims to:
- improve the learning performance, social confidence and social integration of children with special needs in selected pilot schools via inclusive/integrated approaches;
- develop teacher training modules and learning materials for children with special needs and to use these for training teachers in the pilot schools and include the modules in the national teacher training program;
- demonstrate via the pilot schools the benefits of inclusive/integrated educational approaches for children with special needs in basic schools, and to develop pro-active strategies that will lead directly to effective inclusion and integration of children with special needs in the mainstream basic schools.
The Ministry of Public Education is the Executing Agency of the JFPR Project. The National Steering Committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of public education, Ministry of health, Ministry of labour and social care and other interested parties, was created to coordinate overall activities at the national and Project level.
To achieve project benefits and sustainability, local non-government organizations and community based organizations, who have significant experience working with the special needs education, will be selected to develop and implement public awareness programs for the stakeholders and work closely with parents of children with special needs and schools to assist them in implementing the participating program of integration/inclusion. Non-government and community based organization will also conduct monitoring and evaluation of the Project.
The Project will be implemented over a period of 3 years from 2006 to 2009 and consists of the following components.
Component A – Social Preparation.
The following activities should be accomplished within this component:
- Creation of a National Steering Committee;
- Creation of a Regional Steering Committee;
- Identification and Selection of participating pilot schools in Tashkent city, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya oblasts. Eighteen schools (6 special needs education schools and 12 mainstream schools) will be selected by the National Steering Committee during the first two months of project implementation. Criteria for selection of pilot schools will be developed by ADB, Ministry of public education and the National Steering Committee.
- Identification of types of disabilities to be included in the inclusion/integration, including children who are not covered by the special schools and development of mechanisms for participation in the pilot project components (children receiving home education or defined as not-eligible for education). The disabilities may vary according to the schools and regions selected.
- Finalization of the mechanism for selecting participating students and achieving parental agreement.
- Design of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) methodology and instruments.
- Development and implementation awareness raising and education program for parents and other key stakeholders on the issues of inclusive education, this will include a national campaign focused on inclusive education, meetings with schools and parents and with SNE students.
Component B – Minor School Rehabilitation and Provision of Basic Equipment.
Component C – Teacher Training and Materials Development
- The development of specialized training modules for the teachers working ion the pilot schools and in the pilot classes;
- The provision of specialized training to pilot school teachers in the use of ICT and specialized software;
- Training in the development of learning and teaching materials including the use of ICT resources and equipment with particular reference to adapting materials for minority language purposes;
- The creation of a specialized internet portal where all schools and teachers working with children with special needs can locate materials, share ideas and develop collaborative approaches. This component will provide benefits to SNE in Uzbekistan well beyond the participating pilot schools;
- A special courses at the regional in-service teacher training institute (RITTI) for teachers from each of 18 participating schools supported by an international SNE specialist with skills in teacher training and ICT materials development to develop a series of 2 week teacher training modules and accompanying materials and software;
- A further 4-week course for teachers from each of the participating general schools aimed at developing ICT and internet familiarity with standard applications software and specialist software and an introduction to techniques for materials development.
Component D – Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Impact Assessment and Publicity
- Implementation of pilot project
- M&E systems
- Reporting to stakeholders
- Dissemination of information to other regions
- Three national Conferences on Special Needs Children. The conferences tentative dates and focus will be decided by the NSC. The Ministry of public education shall lead events in coordination with the NSC.
- Public Awareness Program through mass media, to be conducted in coordination with the NSC.
- Policy review and recommendation on inclusive education for further programs and projects especially on multi-sector projects.
- Impact assessment on the sustainability of the inclusive approach.
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