Marneuli, Georgia: The Marneuli Public School is one of the eight state universities in Georgia participating in a three-year programme to strengthen the quality and inclusiveness of the national education system.
The programme is funded by the Norwegian government and implemented by UNICEF and the Norwegian Government Agency for Special Needs Education (Statped).
The programme focuses on children between 3 and 18 years of age, with a specific emphasis on children with disabilities, national minorities, and marginalized children, including those who are currently not attending school and are at risk of dropping out.
The programme aims to ensure that these children can access quality learning and inclusive education and develop their personality, talents, and creativity.
As part of the programme, the Marneuli Public School has equipped a resource room with the necessary inventory and equipment to individually approach each student and consider and adapt to their interests and abilities.
The resource room is accessible to every school student and offers different support methods, such as art therapy, play therapy, and music therapy.
Tamirlan Mustafaev, a psychologist at the Marneuli Public School, said that the resource room helps to identify the child’s needs and provide them with the appropriate assistance. He also said that the programme has improved the school’s capacity to offer inclusive education and promote students’ transition to the next educational level.
The programme also involves the formation of a parents’ club, where parents can share their experiences and challenges and receive guidance and support from the school staff and experts. The parents’ club aims to foster a positive attitude towards inclusive education and increase parents’ involvement in their children’s learning process.
The programme is part of a more extensive partnership between UNICEF and the Norwegian government, which has committed USD 163.3 million in flexible funding to help UNICEF reach children with quality education, protection, health and nutrition interventions, focusing specifically on the world’s most marginalized, including children with disabilities.
The partnership also aims to make sure communities are fully inclusive and that children and adolescents with disabilities can gain access to essential services.
