From 3 to 8 August, Filomena Pereira, an international expert on inclusive education from Portugal, visited Turkmenistan. The week-long technical mission was organised by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan with the support of UNICEF, according to the news website Turkmenportal.

The aim of the visit was to analyse the progress made in the development of inclusive education and to identify further steps. During the mission, meetings were held with representatives of the Ministry of Education, regional education authorities, teachers, professionals involved in professional development, members of interdisciplinary teams, representatives of psychological, medical and educational commissions, and higher education institutions.

Following the consultations and field visits, the participants agreed on measures to expand educational opportunities for children with diverse educational needs. Particular attention was paid to the professional development of specialists, improving methods for identifying children’s individual needs, and developing a mentoring system.

Representatives from the Ministry of Education and UNICEF visited pilot nurseries and schools in the Ahal and Balkan velayats, where they familiarised themselves with the implementation of inclusive education. They discussed the results, existing challenges and necessary support measures with teachers, school heads and regional coordinators.

The recommendations drawn up following the mission will form the basis for further work: improving teacher training, developing a monitoring system and disseminating the experience of pilot institutions to scale up inclusive practices, according to a UNICEF press release.