How can we help a child with difficulties if there is lack of trained teachers? Or, if they are excluded from education. Or their disabilities are not properly identified? Exactly these questions are in the focus of the Project Regional Support for Inclusive Education being implemented in South East Europe. As a visiting professor at the Palacky University in Czech Republic, dr. Ognen Spasovski presented this project at the workshop on Inclusive education. He explained Project's aims to the doctoral students of the Faculty of Philosophy and wider audience.

“Project aims are to break down barriers for all vulnerable groups in the education sector and to promote inclusive education, said Mr. Spasovski about this joint project of the European Union and Council of Europe.

“It is not enough”, he continued,”to have children just enrolled in schools. We have responsibility to provide access to quality education for all children. Equal opportunities for development of potentials of each child are essential. That is why we need to provide additional support", said Mr. Spasovski.

“A regional approach”, he added” is a major strength of the project. Schools, school staff, teachers and policy makers build regional nets, explained Mr. Spasovski. They can learn from each other and improve, cooperate and share experiences, knowledge, ideas, believes and hopes. “This synergy”, he told, “created by the regional cooperation could became an engine moving all of the schools and countries toward substantive inclusiveness”, concluded Mr. Spasovski.

Nevertheless, he stressed that inclusive education is not a general practice mainstreamed into education. Professor pointed out that children with disabilities are under-identified or overtly excluded from education. As well, he added, there is lack of trained teachers and continuing teachers’ training for inclusive educational practice.

The project approach and current results provoked significant interest and discussion among the participants of the workshop.