The Gala of Inclusive Education and the ‘Alexandra Grajdian Trophy for COURAGE and INNOVATION in promoting the inclusive education’

To recognize the merits of institutions that have made a substantial and lasting contribution to the development and the promotion of inclusive education, APSCF annually grants the ‘Alexandra Grajdian Trophy for COURAGE and INNOVATION in promoting the inclusive education’. The Trophy bears the name of the Alexandra Grajdian, a promoter and one of the first founders of the NGO movement in Criuleni district, with a vast pedagogical activity, who dedicated her last 15 years to inclusive education and who fought for the rights of children and young people with disabilities.

2020

In 2020, the “Alexandra Grajdian” trophy for COURAGE AND INNOVATION in promoting inclusive education was awarded to the Public Institution of Oxentea Gymnasium, Dubasari district. The institution is a school for all children, with the management team working together with the teaching staff and the parents looking for opportunities to develop inclusive education and initiating collaborations with CSOs. The school has demonstrated a truly inclusive culture that is reflected in the attitude and individualized approach of each child and each parent who comes to the institution.

During The Inclusive Education Gala, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, in partnership with APSCF, awarded 6 mentions for the results obtained in the implementation of inclusive education to the following institutions: The Theoretical High School “Gheorghe Palade” (Puhoi village, Ialoveni district), “Poienița” Early Education Institution (Malcoci village, Ialoveni district), The Early Education Institution no. 1 “Spiriduș” (Bălți), “Anton Crihan” Gymnasium (Singerei), Filipeni Gymnasium (Leova district), The Theoretical High School “George Coșbuc” (Bălți).

2019

In 2019, the “Alexandra Grajdian” Trophy for COURAGE AND INNOVATION in promoting the inclusive education was awarded to the nursery – kindergarten no. 2 “Foisor” from Edinet. The institution was recognised for its accessibility of the physical and educational environment created for all children. Currently, the kindergarten is attended by 21 children with special educational requirements and the management team together with the teaching staff and parents contribute to ensuring a child-friendly environment. In all these years, the kindergarten has demonstrated a truly inclusive culture reflected in the individualised attitude and approach of each child and each parent who comes to the institution.

Within the Gala, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, in partnership with APSCF, also granted 2 special mentions: IP Gymnasium “V. Bulicanu” from Bolduresti village (Nisporeni district) – for “ensuring educational opportunities for each child” and the Early Education Institution no.10 “Miorita” from Balti – for “pro-active involvement in promoting inclusive practices in the education system”.

2018

In 2018, the trophy was awarded to the “Alexandru Donici” Primary School in Cahul, which marked the implementation of inclusive education as early as 2000 when the first child with special needs was integrated. All these years, the school has demonstrated a truly inclusive culture reflected in the individualized attitude and approach of each child and every parent who comes to the institution.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, in partnership with APSCF, granted 6 special mentions: “Petre Stefanuca” High School, Ialoveni district – for the promotion of inclusive education at the national level, Primary School no. 21 “Spiridon Vangheli”, Balti municipality – for innovation in organizing the activity of the Resource Center for Inclusive Education, “Mihai Eminescu” High School, Causeni – for activism in strengthening the community partnership and promoting inclusive education, Hijdieni Gymnasium, Glodeni district – for proactively promoting their own experiences in the field of inclusive education, inclusive “Stories” Kindergarten, Nisporeni – for leadership in the implementation of inclusive education, “Stefan Holban” Theoretical High School, Carpineni village, Hincesti district – for cooperation and partnerships in creating the optimal conditions for inclusive education.

2017

In 2017, the trophy was awarded to the Primary School no. 120 from Chisinau. At a time when everyone was reluctant to implement the right of all children to be educated in general education, the Primary School no. 120 had already integrated children with disabilities and took every effort to make the practice a normative one at a national level. The school was also the first institution in the country to accept the integration of children with SEN into the general education school and develop additional services.

There were also 6 special mentions for promoting inclusive education: ‘Pro Succes’ High School (Chisinau) for leadership in the implementation of inclusive education, Ungheni Gymnasium for cooperation and partnerships in creating the optimum conditions for inclusive education, ‘Alexandru Donici’ Primary School – (Cahul) for promoting the inclusive education at the national level, ‘Mihai Eminescu’ Theoretical High School (Straseni) for proactively sharing their own experiences in the field of inclusive education, Criuleni Gymnasium for activism in strengthening the community partnership and promoting inclusive education, and Early Education Centre no. 5 ‘Licurici’ (Ialoveni) for activism in the development of support services for early inclusive education.