Kalsnava Primary school – school for equal rights and opportunities

Latvia

Kalsnava Primary school of Madona county

Vesetas iela 6, p. n. Jaunkalsnava, Kalsnavas pagasts, Madonas novads, LV- 4860, Latvia Phone: (+371) 64807640 Email: kalsnsk@inbox.lv Website: www.kalsnavaspamatskola.lv

Governmental

There are 176 pupils at Kalsnava Primary school of Madona county, 6 of which are with special needs. The one of the priorities of the school director is to support every pupil, providing opportunity to children with special needs to go to comprehensive school, to learn with peers, participate in out-of-school activities. The school is implementing a primary education programme and special education primary education programme for pupils with mental development disorders. School has 24 teachers of which 10 have acquired necessary skills to work with children with disabilities. There are also speech therapist, psychologist, social worker and periodically psychotherapist working with “C” level children.
First steps towards integration were taken in 2004.

One of the main aims of Kalsnava primary school is to support parents wishing to have education possibility for their children near to their home. To facilitate integration and inclusion at the beginning of school year an individual education plan, survey and achievement plans are set up in co-operation among parents, family doctor, psychologist and teachers. Each pupil with special needs has maximum possibility every day to participate in lessons in accordance to their abilities. They participate also in out-of-school activities, school and municipal activities. Within Comenius partnership programme two special kids, their parents and teachers visited similar school in Turkey.
School is actively involved in project finaced by Norvegian/EEA grant programme “Integration suitcase for children with special needs”. Everyone interested is kindly invited to see how the education process takes place in praxis.

Seeing the first kid being included in the school raised hopes for other parents to see their children in the school near home. In 2007 a petition of parents was supported and “c” level programme accredited and 10 teachers undergone qualification raising training. Kalsnava municipality financed adequate renovation of the school.
High results were achieved thanks to understanding and co-operation among parents, school management, teachers and municipality. As a result there are already 6 pupils with special needs who have opportunity to attend school.

There are still a lot of ideas for future development after five years of work. In 2007 Kalsnava Primary school received certification “Equal rights and opportunities school 2006” for the positive example and initiative integrating children with disability into comprehensive school. Our teacher Ilze Stikāne was nominated for “Pride of Latvia 2007” award for daring and work to integrate a special kid into school.

Kalsnava primary school, Comenius