In 2013, The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia in the process of implementation inclusive education, determined the education of hearing impaired pupils and students as one of the most Prioritized issues. One of the most important issues is to actively involve parents in the process of children education.
It is also very important to inform parents about new tendencies concerned to the hearing impaired children educational process. It should be taken into consideration that bilingual (Gestures of speech and language development simultaneously) approaches and psychological factors are equally important while planning the educational process for hearing impaired children. Therefore, it delivers a high importance to develop mechanisms which helps a parent to answer the questions concerning the condition of the child and get appropriate service.
For the educator, parent is the best ally in the process of child development. Hence, by the help of the Ministry of education of Norway, Norwegian experts (among them is a parent of hearing impaired child) are in Georgia in order to share their experience with Georgian parents. It is pleasant that the meeting will be held in the regions and up to 60 parents will be involved in active discussion.
Under the initiative of the ministry, parents’ awareness will be increased concerning the education of hearing impaired people and at the systemic level Parent Empowerment Program will be founded, it will function based on international experience and the results of currently carried out researches.
Parent Empowerment Program will provide the parents with gesture language teaching and sequential methodology, which introduces them peculiarities of children development, psychological barriers connected to hearing impairment, and the opportunities that they have during the rehabilitation period. A special attention will be paid to importance of implementing individual approaches caused by the needs of individuals.
The Ministry of Education and science of Georgia will start piloting the mentioned program from October, 2015 with the support of The Government of Norway and with the participation of the Teacher Training National Center.