Dear parents of children with disabilities,
This is a call for solidarity and mobilization for children’s right to education in Romania.
I was concerned to learn that in special schools, parents are being pressured to fill out a tendentious questionnaire, which, under the pretence of gathering parents opinion on the educational services offered by schools, asks them whether they WISH TO ABOLISH SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
This question, as well as the context in which the questionnaire is distributed, are aimed at MANIPULATING parents and obtaining their VICED CONSENT for perpetuating the isolation of children with disabilities.
Following the actions undertaken by the European Center for the Rights of Children with Disabilities (CEDCD), which promotes the RIGHT TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION for all children, according to the obligations assumed by Romania through the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2010), representatives of the special education system have come together in a serious attempt of manipulating and threatening parents of children with disabilities in order to preserve their privileges and maintain an obsolete and unproductive system of special education.
False and alarming messages are being sent to parents of children with disabilities, enrolled in special schools, as follows:
- „ CEDCD wants to abolish special schools and children with disabilities will no longer have a place to learn”.
- „ CEDCD wants to transform special schools in NGOs, which will be managed by the center alone in order to take the parents’ money”.
- „Children with disabilities will be excluded, marginalized, discriminated and assaulted in mass schools”.
This is the context in which parents of children with disabilities are asked to answer the following question:
„DO YOU AGREE WITH THE ABOLITION OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS?”
The entire endeavor is all the more serious, as it is officially coordinated by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research (MNESR). Below is the message of the General Inspector for Special Education within MNESR regarding the online platform launched by CEDCD – www.educaţieincluziva.info
Translation:
“For some colleagues in the system who believe that others should defend their interests
Sleep tight, others will be on the look-out!
Of interest for you, Law 8/2016. I understand that many haven’t found out yet that this law passed, against the negative opinion of the ministry. Do you recognize the author?
LIANA MITRAN”
In respect to the situation described above, as president of the European Centre for the Rights of Children with Disabilities, I wish to make the following clarifications:
CEDCD is not pursuing the abolition of special schools, but rather the reform of the education system in the sense of creating inclusive schools for all children, according to the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are aware that it is a process achievable over a medium and long term, but the process must proceed based on a National Inclusion Program which establishes a staged transition from the segregated educational system to an inclusive one or to the mechanism of “least restrictive educational environment”. A first step which CEDCD has proposed to MNESR is to create a network of pilot inclusive schools, doubled by the appropriate training for teachers.
CEDCD is not pursuing, nor is there any legal possibility to transform special schools into NGOs. This statement is bizarre enough to not invest any additional explanation in taking it down.
Children with disabilities have the right to learn in mass schools. What we, as parents, can do, is to support mass schools with information, materials and, where needed, request these rights through legal means.
We take this opportunity to call on all parents of children with disabilities enrolled in special schools not to give in to the manipulative and intimidating actions of the special schools representatives. We know that you fear your answers may affect your child’s situation in school, but we must have the courage to fight for their future.
Awarding the questions excellent evaluation will NOT improve your child’s situation in school and will only perpetuate a system which transforms our children in socially supported adults. The school is NOT doing you a favor by accepting your child, allowing you to go to work. It is a RIGHT for which we must not humiliate ourselves and pay with the future of our children.
Inclusive education means schools adapted to the needs of all children, support teachers, adapted programs and books, rehabilitation services. This is my goal and the goal of CEDCD.
These days, while special schools question and intimidate parents, Lisbon hosts the biggest reunion of European organisations on inclusive education.
Below are key messages of the most important players in the field:
„Europe needs inclusive education more than ever. This is the message of the European Commission, supporting this reunion.” – Maureen Piggot , Inclusion Europe
„Special schools are bad because they isolate children from their peers, they prepare children for professions that are no longer needed, they encourage prejudices and abuses” – Senada Halicevic – president of the European Platform for Self Advocates
„Families of children with disabilities have the right to support and information through the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in order to not be manipulated in always choosing special schools, or worse, supporting them”– Diane Richler – Inclusion International.
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