The head of the representation in Gagauzia of the Ombudsperson’s Office, Svetlana Mironova, participated in a workshop of the heads of educational institutions, on February 19. The workshop was conducted within the theoretical high-school of the Svetliy village, in Comratraion. The workshop aimed at improving the activity of education institutions in the area of child’s rights and protection of the rights of the staff of schools and high-schools. Representatives of the civil society have also taken part in the event, specifically town halls, finance directorates, churches, and others. Svetlana Mironova delivered a speech about ensuring the safety of children within the educational institutions; the access of children with special educational needs to the educational institutions; and the preparation of such children for the baccalaureate examination.

It is no secret that not all the schools in the region are adapted to the needs of the children with special education needs; aside from that, not all children get the possibility to pass the exams in special conditions, due to the absence of a timely decision by the Ministry of Education.

The Ombudsperson Institution conducted a number of working meetings on this issue, following which the Ministry of Education has revised and amended some ministerial acts regarding this issueand informed the representatives of the education institutions and the civil society about this. The school principalshave been reminded about the need to prepare and file documents in order to get permits for creating special conditions for the children with special education needs.

Another topic discussed was the conditions for provision and payment of sick leaves. The directors have been informed about the need to observe the labor and social rights of the employees, considering the new legal amendments. In addition, the principals received booklets about the rights of the children, published by the Office of the Ombudsperson.