The transformative changes of inclusive education in Ukraine

The main purpose of the article is to show the changes that are taking place in Ukraine regarding the problem of children with special educational needs integration in general educational establishments. The need for inclusive education introduction is emphasized, and the analysis of legislative and regulatory documents is carried out. It is argued that inclusive education is based on the principle of children’s basic right to education ensuring and the right to study at the place of residence. The system of special education, which has a vertical-horizontal structure in Ukraine, is analyzed. The questions were aimed at the positive and negative consequences identifying of inclusive education introduction. The dynamics of growth in the number of children studied in inclusive classes in the Ivano-Frankivsk region during 2016-2020 yrs. is analyzed. The conducted study gives grounds to conclude that inclusive education on the way of formation in our country is experiencing many difficulties, which include the lack of teachers’ training to work with special educational needs children in secondary school, insufficient development of the legal framework, inadequate additional funding of inclusive institutions and low level of educational and methodological support. The importance of the inclusive education introduction is emphasized, which should be gradual with the professional development of all its components