Inclusion begins with friendship

During a mathematics lesson, Andrei looks up from his notebook with a visible sense of relief. Just a few minutes earlier, the problem he was working on had seemed difficult, but after receiving a few suggestions from his classmates, he managed to solve it. At Ion Creangă Theoretical High School, moments like these are part of everyday school life - where students learn to support one another and build trust. Here, inclusion is reflected in the way children, teachers, and parents work together. It is not always easy, but meaningful and lasting relationships are built over time.

“The most important thing is to be a good classmate. We learn together, but it is just as important to respect one another,” says Evelina, a ninth-grade student.

The school is attended by 563 students, including 26 children with disabilities and special educational needs. For these children, the support of peers and teachers plays a vital role in helping them feel included and more confident in themselves.

Nicoleta and Evelina have known Andrei since first grade. Andrei has special educational needs, but this has never prevented them from growing up together and learning that diversity is not a barrier, but a strength.

“In our class, every child feels accepted. We support each other and work together. Our teachers encourage us to express our opinions and create a positive atmosphere,” says Nicoleta.

Behind this culture of respect stands an active partnership between teachers, students, and parents. The school’s principal, Svetlana Dintiu, who also serves as the school psychologist, believes that an inclusive school begins with the way these relationships are built.

“A truly inclusive school is a space where every student feels accepted, valued and supported in reaching their full potential,” she says.

To support this approach, teachers regularly participate in training and mentoring programmes that help them better understand each child’s needs and strengthen relationships with families.

One of the educators promoting this approach is Zinaida Caraja, Deputy Director for Education. She participated in training sessions focused on strengthening school-family partnerships, organized within the UNICEF project “Empowering children, parents, teachers and communities to promote inclusive education in the Republic of Moldova,” implemented by CCF Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and the Republican Center for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance, with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom.

After completing the training, she became a mentor for her colleagues, sharing the methods and approaches she had learned. The results are already evident in closer collaboration between teachers and parents, as well as in a more open and child-centered educational environment.

“I understood even better how important partnership with parents truly is. When schools and families work together, children become more confident and are able to progress further,” says Zinaida Caraja.

Maria Suvac, a support teacher, also plays an essential role in supporting children’s progress, having worked for eight years with students at the Inclusive Education Resource Center.

She speaks with emotion about the small achievements that, over time, help children develop confidence and independence. For her, collaboration with parents is just as important as working directly with students.

“You need a great deal of patience and empathy when working with parents,” says Maria Suvac.

Parents take part in school activities, maintain constant communication with teachers, and closely follow their children’s progress. Many students are also involved in extracurricular activities - such as dance, painting, embroidery, or modelling - where they further develop their talents and self-confidence.

“Parents are open and cooperative, and we work together very well. They are active and genuinely interested in their children’s development,” the teacher adds.

For Andrei, Nicoleta, and Evelina, the most important lesson is how to be human - a lesson learned far beyond textbooks. In their classroom, they have learned not to judge without understanding, to communicate openly, and to make an effort to understand one another.

This is how inclusion is built at Ion Creangă Theoretical High School - through friendship, collaboration, and respect. These are values that will stay with them long after they leave school.