New initiative for persons with disabilities to promote their education and employment
Ms. Tamar Sanikidze mentioned for first time about new service, which with the initiative of Ministry is in process of development with the Employment Programs Department of Social Service Agency and which implies support piloting services for people with disabilities in the open labor market.
Various representatives of Georgian and Foreign authorities have listened report of Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, about what was done in last years in the field of active involvement of people in vocational education with special educational needs. At the same time, conference determined strategies for support of employment of people with special educational needs and for people with disabilities.
Active reformation of vocational education system was started in 2013 after elections of new government. One of the successful initiatives of these reform presents implementation of inclusive education, in these process financial support to Georgian Government was provided by Norwegian Government.
Georgia ratified The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013. By the introduction of inclusive education, the country has made significant advances in the performance of their obligations under the Convention. By making accessible vocational education Georgia provided vulnerable groups (disabled persons, socially vulnerable and etc.) with proper competence, which significantly contributed their employment opportunity.
During detailed discussion of inclusive educational services in Georgia, significant accent was made on involvement of disabled students and pupils.
In conference participated representatives of Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, office of Public Defender, State University, local and international nongovernmental organizations, municipality, vocational education establishments, public schools, disabled persons organizations and offices and form other offices. It is underlined that main speakers of conference were Deputy Head of Welsh Center of Learning Difficulties under Cardiff University Medical School, European Union employment supportive founder and board member of the World Association of Employment support Christy Lynch and international consultant from Great Britain Mike Evans.
