Inclusion of Ukrainian Schoolchildren Seeking Refuge from the War into the Czech Education System

Abstract

This paper addresses the inclusion of Ukrainian schoolchildren who were forced to leave their homes because of Russian military aggression. The research is aimed at identifying the specifics of the inclusive process regarding the children of war and analyzing the features that are different compared to traditional approaches to the inclusion of forced migrants. Building upon the results of a focus group study, the article emphasizes the importance of consolidating the potential of specialists of Ukraine and the Czech Republic in the context of the integration of traditions and innovations of both countries to overcome the difficulties of educational inclusion of Ukrainian schoolchildren - forced migrants.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Olha Klopota

Olha Klopota Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work, Khortytsia National Academy, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine; Assistant Professor of the Department of Special and Inclusive Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia. Her scientific interests: integration into society of children and youth with special needs, teachers' readiness for professional activity in an inclusive educational space. She participates in projects focusing on inclusive education, the formation of an image of the social prosperity of people with disabilities in society.

Yevhenii Klopota

Yevhenii Klopota Professor of the Department of Psychology, Zaporizhzhia National University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine; Assistant Professor of the Department of Special and Inclusive Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia. His research interests: psychological and pedagogical support of children and youth with special needs in an inclusive education, professional self-development of teachers, integration into society of people with blindness and visual impairments, social adaptation in stressful and critical situations.

Věra Vojtová

Věra Vojtová Associate Professor, the head of the Department of Special and Inclusive Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia. Her research issues focus upon the learning, supporting children and youth with SEN within quality of their life perspective. The framework of values, prejudices, labelling and needs of children is viewed as the main challenge in her researches.