Kontakt 2008, 10(1):90-95 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2008.013

Education of children with mental handicaps with a special respect to South-Bohemian regionHealth and Social Sciences

Eva Líbenková

Mateřská škola, Základní škola a Praktická škola, Štítného 3, České Budějovice, Speciálně pedagogické centrum

The right of education is one of principal human rights and it should concern all the citizens of our country without exemptions. Till recent time, this right was considerably restricted if not directly denied to certain citizens, particularly children with mental handicaps. Children with severe handicaps were frequently set free of the obligatory school education and the parents were recommended to situate these children into institutions, and children with mild types of mental handicaps attended special schools. Considerable changes in the special school system were encountered over time and in the school system in general and the way to education was open for all the children. This way was considerably complicated - on the one hand, by introducing the rehabilitation educational programme it made possible the education even for children with more severe handicaps and, on the other hand, it restricted the integration of children with mental handicaps into common primary schools. At the present time, all the children can rightfully attend catchment schools. However, for many of them, the integration into the primary school or possible kindergarten or secondary school is possible only thanks to pedagogical assistance and there are only restricted financial means for this assistance. The solution also cannot be found based on a personal assistant covered by parents from a financial contribution to the care. Many negotiations are still necessary between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Work and Social Affairs to solve this situation and to find the financial means necessary. After completing any type of the primary school, the school leavers can continue depending on their possibilities in the study in a certain apprentice discipline or at a certain practical school. At the present time, a possibility is theoretically provided of the education for all the children from the kindergarten to a certain type of secondary education but sufficient financial means are not provided and the education at a selected school is also frequently impossible due to a considerable distance from the site of the residence.

Keywords: mental retardation; special school system; integration; assistance

Received: January 25, 2008; Accepted: March 26, 2008; Prepublished online: June 27, 2008; Published: July 27, 2008  Show citation