Priorities of Inclusive Education in Russia: Legal Aspect

Abstract

The article discusses the international legal framework for regulating relations in the field of inclusive education, as well as the state of these legal relations in the Russian Federation. The recommendations on organization of inclusive education in Russia given by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are cited. The author expresses an opinion that creation of a system of full inclusive education with simultaneous destruction of the current practice of special (correctional) educational organizations is premature. It is emphasized that the financial and legal mechanisms for regulating such legal relations are not satisfactory, and parents, teachers and children with disabilities themselves are not yet ready for the new conditions. The serious problems in the education system of modern Russia are briefly described. For example, the common problems are the following: the teachers are underqualified; the textbooks and educational programs are not consistent with legal requirements; the teachers’ labor is underpaid; violations occur while providing them with certain benefits, etc. One of the main reasons, in the author’s view, is a rush in making the decisions in this field that are offered by the international community.