The Education and Science Committee of the Tuzla Canton Assembly convened to discuss the situation of children with developmental disabilities and the need for teaching assistants in primary schools. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Pedagogical Institute of Tuzla Canton, the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Tuzla, and the Institute for Education of Persons with Mental and Physical Disabilities in Tuzla attended the meeting.
Approximately 470 students with developmental disabilities attend regular classes in primary schools in Tuzla Canton, with 247 assistants employed. There are also 204 special education teachers working in educational institutions. Despite these resources, the Committee receives frequent complaints from students, parents, associations, teachers, and educational institutions, indicating numerous challenges and a failure to fully serve the children's best interests.
Following a constructive discussion, the Committee concluded that it is necessary to analyze the effectiveness of teaching assistants and the progress of students with developmental disabilities in regular schools. They also decided to initiate amendments to legal solutions to establish a commission for assessing students' educational abilities. The Committee will promote early intervention services in collaboration with preschool institutions and rename the Institute for Education of Persons with Mental and Physical Disabilities in Tuzla. Furthermore, they will prepare guidelines for parents of children with developmental disabilities. The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, Social Policy, and Return of Tuzla Canton, and the resources of the University of Tuzla will be involved in these activities. The Education and Science Committee will inform the Tuzla Canton Assembly about these conclusions.