Mako Tetrauli - Senior Special Teacher of Public School N5

Mako Tetrauli has been working as a special education teacher since the time when inclusive education was introduced at schools, from a time when there was a complete vacuum of inclusive education in the society and special teachers had the main role in filling this gap.

N118 Public School, where Mako Tetrauli first started working, was the only one to be involved in the inclusive education process for the first time in 2014. There were many difficulties, many stereotypes, but the joint enthusiasm of the teachers, love of work and professional support for each other overcame the difficulties and, as she says, to this day, all together, faithfully continue to introduce the principles of inclusive education. 

For some time Mako Tetrauli worked in the N72 public school, in the integrated class of the autism spectrum, which gave her a great experience. She is currently a successful teacher at Public School N5 and, based on her relevant master's education, is one of the teachers to be awarded the status of Senior Special Teacher in 2021. 

"The level of public awareness regarding inclusive education is significantly higher today. I am proud of the high involvement and support of our school administration. This is very important for well-organized inclusive education. 

Working with children at school is, indeed, creative and diverse. As you know, the abilities and interests of all students are different. Therefore, each students needs personal training resources, activities or teaching strategy. This factor is a continuous process of professional growth.

"When I was choosing master's programs, I saw a master's program in inclusive education at Ilia University. Then for the first time I became interested and found information about inclusive education. It turned out that inclusive education was taking its first steps and I had a desire to be an accomplice in this important process. 

It has been crucial for me, and I still have faith that no matter what job I serve, it is very important that each of my working days creates the future of my students. It is this realization of responsibility that never lets me relax. 

We, the special educators, must do our utmost to protect the rights of our students. In different environments we often encounter stereotypical attitudes from the public. Therefore, if necessary, we must show the public that yes, special students have the right to a quality education, and we must make sure that everyone who has even the slightest contact such a student realizes their individual responsibility. 

"While teaching online, we faced certain challenges as special teachers. We have so many resources in contact learning, we can turn on all the sensory channels of the student. In many cases, we create necessary and interesting learning materials with the student. Online learning has limited this to some extent. The decisive role was assigned to the parent. In the first stage, the parents also faced some difficulties. However, through active communication between the parents and teachers and by increasing their competence on our part, we have overcome these difficulties together.” 

Mako Tetrauli thinks that success can be achieved only with mutual support.