All news

Six thousand education institutions for disabled children planned for Russia

MOSCOW, February 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian authorities will build about 6,000 educational institutions for disabled children by the end of 2015. It is part of a long-term national initiative to create a comfortable living environment for the disabled, Evgeny Siliyanov, director of a Ministry of Education and Science agency for children’s rights protection, said on Tuesday.

He told a round table: “There are plans to create about 2,600 schools this year, which account for 12.8% of all general education institutions. With another 3,200 educational facilities to be built in 2015 we can reach 20% of the total number.”

More than three billion roubles would be allocated for major tasks this year, he said, noting that in 2011-2013, about 3,350 education institutions had been created in Russia's regions. Nearly 400 million rubles were spent from the federal budget and 480 million rubles funded in the regions. Nearly 24,000 specialists would be prepared by the end of 2015, Siliyanov added.

The "Available Environment" programme was launched in Russia in 2011, implying that all aspects of life, including education, health care, culture, social care and sport should be available for those with disabilities.

Between 2011 and 2015, a network of basic educational facilities is being established to provide programs of general education for both disabled children and those without disabilities.

In this period, more than nine billion rubles will be allocated from the federal budget and 8.8 billion rubles from regional budgets. The program will create an environment for children with disabilities in 20% of general education institutions.