Kaunas Teacher Qualification Centre (Centre) organised a methodological event for teachers and school leaders “Inclusive Education. The success story of Kaunas Suzuki Primary School”. The event took place in the Zoom virtual environment and attracted 60 participants from all over Lithuania. Valerija Segalovičienė, the organiser and host of the event, moderated the presentations. In her opening remarks, she stressed that Kaunas Suzuki Primary School is a unique school that is looking for forms and methods of inclusive education.
The first presentation was given by Dėja Aukštkalnytė, Doctor of Social Sciences, Headmistress of the school.She pointed out the basic principles of Suzuki’s educational philosophy, which is in line with the concept of inclusive education: ‘children can develop a talent in any field of science or art’. The teaching/learning process takes place step by step at each child’s own pace, regardless of parents’ or teachers’ expectations (the curriculum is individually tailored); one skill builds on another skill. It takes time and patience to build the essential knowledge and skills of a child with special needs.
The Suzuki approach relies on the parents’ daily input into their children’s education. This was the subject of the second presentation by Asta Blandė, chair of the school council, psychologist, educator and author of books. The role of parents in the education of children with special needs is indispensable and essential. She said that education is a reflection of society: here we learn to live in diversity. It’s a place where everyone is a student as well as a teacher, and where mistakes are an integral part of learning. Everyone makes mistakes. But to learn from them, we need goodwill. It is important to trust children, to encourage their independence, especially when they are willing to try and make an effort, and only if necessary to provide help.
Miglė Purvinskienė, the school’s speech therapist and special educator, presented the daily work practice, advantages and disadvantages faced by people working with children with special needs in schools. An important part of her presentation was her insight into the scope of work, as sometimes it takes a separate full-time person working alongside a child to help them.
Rimantė Tamošiūnienė, a methodological teacher, introduced the participants to the cases she has encountered in her practice, aspects of assessing children’s progress and achievements, and the possibilities of cooperation with parents at school.
Valerija Segalovičienė, Methodologist at Kaunas Teacher Qualification Centre
