Kyiv hosted a forum on supporting the network of inclusive resource centres for 2026

At the Forum on Support for the Network of Inclusive Resource Centres, participants discussed a system in which every child receives quality care, support, and opportunities for development.

The Forum on Support for the Network of Inclusive Resource Centres (IRCs) for 2026 was held in Kyiv on 3 February.

It was held by the NGO DOCCU as part of the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities. DECIDE Project experts, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Mykola Yarmachenko Institute of Special Education and Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, as well as heads of resource centres for inclusive education and directors of IRCs from all over Ukraine participated in the Forum.

The Forum aimed to ensure that every child with special educational needs has the right to a quality, accessible education, by providing systematic support for the IRC network and fostering effective cooperation at all levels.

Valentyna Poltorak, Deputy Chair of DOCCU and DECIDE Project Manager, explained the role of DECIDE in the development of education management, in particular in ensuring children's access to inclusive education.

‘Our professional development programmes have already reached more than 10,000 specialists working with children with special educational needs (SEN). Along with expert and methodological support, we are involved in practical changes on the ground, in particular, the restoration of the Borodianskyi IRC. We recently summarised the first outcomes of the grant programme for the development of IRCs in partner communities and launched a new direction – career guidance for children with SEN. We are happy to support the Ministry of Education and Science and work together with the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities to ensure that communities are active participants in shaping state policy in inclusive education,’ said Valentyna Poltorak.

The Forum was held in the format of facilitated sessions. The topics discussed included:

• the creation of a Central IRC as a key instrument of strategic support;

• updating the role of regional centres to make them more effective for communities;

• the distribution of functions between the state and regional levels;

• methodological and psychological support for IRC experts;

• the chain ‘Central Inclusive Resource Centre – Resource Centre for Inclusive Education Support – Inclusive Resource Centre’ as a resource support rather than a control mechanism.

Finally, the participants outlined a roadmap for interaction between the centre, the region, and the community with a well-coordinated system focused on the interests of the child.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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