The school has functioned since the 1950s and can accommodate over 200 students with learning disabilities. It is overseen by the Ministry of Education and the local School Inspectorate. Students range in age from 5 to 17 and have mild to severe intellectual disabilities. Admission is determined by a commission that assesses each child. The school has two buildings with classrooms, workshops, a cafeteria, and therapy rooms. A typical day includes breakfast, classes, lunch, and recuperation activities. The school provides teaching, therapies, medical care, counseling, and vocational training.

1. Centrul Scolar pentru Educatie Incluziva (Centre for Inclusive Education)
The school function since the 50`s and can be considered as belonging to
the category of the over dimensioned Romanian helping schools, with a
capacity of over 200 places. The occupancy has been, in the past years, of over
200. In the last years, since 2007, the number of kids dropped, untill 160.
The school is subordinated to the Minister of Education and Research
and, on local level, like all the other schools, to the School Inspectorate of Arad
County. The School Inspectorate finances the school and decided as well over
staff politics. All the categories of staff (“pedagogical” and auxiliary staff) are
employed by the School Inspectorate. The teachers and educators have the
status of public employees. There are two categories of educational staff: those
with a permanent employment contract (they cannot be fired or removed, only
in case of reducing the school occupancy or because of disciplinary reasons –
my case) or temporary employment contracts (usually for one year).
School population
The age of our children is between 5 and 17 years. The pupils are with
learning disabilities, LMD - light mentally disabilities (IQ between 50-70), MMD
- Mid Mentally Disabilities (IQ between 20-50) and SMD – Severely Mentally
Disabilities (IQ under 20). All the children come from the city of Arad, mostly
from social disadvantaged families. There are also Roma children.
Admission procedure
The admission is usually decided by a diagnosis (expertise) commission
functioning at the level of the municipality. This commission is made up of a
psychiatrist, a psychologist, a representative of the School Inspectorate, a
representative of the County Direction for the Protection of the Child. The
commission decides whether a child can be admitted and it also establishes the
reasons (psychological diagnosis).
The school also disposes of a psychologist who is in charge to diagnose
the children but he, as well as the management of the school have no
decisional power. According to the low, the system has a certain “permeability”

2. and flexibility. For instance, it is possible for a child that has better school
results to leave the helping school and to be integrated in a mainstream school.
The day to day practice confirms the fact that such transitions do not take place
frequently.
Material resources
The school has two buildings, with classrooms, kindergarten, speech
therapy rooms, computer room, a canteen with over 100 places and two
workshops (carpentry and tailors workshop).
Structure of the day (in the week)
From-to Activities
7.30-8.00 Breakfast
8.00-13.20 Teaching process
13.30-14.15 Lunch
14.15-17.00 Integration and recuperation educational activities
Provided teaching and care services:
Teaching
Educational complex and integrated therapies
Medical services
Counseling
Psycho-diagnosis
Speech therapies
Half-time care services (for instance breakfast, lunch)
Vocational training
Kineto-terapies
Teaching at home (for children with severe disabilities).