The Network for European Policies – MASTER has launched the project “Include.me – Inclusion in Practice”, aimed at improving the quality of inclusive education by strengthening the capacities of teaching staff and professional associates in Montenegro
Although Montenegro has a legal framework that recognizes the rights of children with special educational needs and promotes inclusive education, practice shows that teachers often lack sufficient preparation, tools, and continuous support to work effectively with these children.
The mission of the “Include.me” project is to change this pattern—to ensure that inclusion becomes a real practice in classrooms, not just a formal obligation.
The goal is to build a system that understands the needs of both teachers and students, provides continuous and tailored support, and encourages the development of each child’s potential in line with their abilities.
In the coming months, a comprehensive set of activities will be implemented to improve inclusive education practices:
● Campaign “Include.me – Inclusion in Practice” – raising public awareness about the importance of inclusion, promoting positive examples, and highlighting teachers who already achieve success in working with children with special educational needs.
● Detailed needs analysis of teachers and professional associates – research aimed at mapping challenges, competency gaps, and areas where additional knowledge is most needed, in order to plan targeted interventions.
● Three-day professional training in northern Montenegro – an interactive, hands-on training for 25 teachers and professional associates, focused on the implementation of Individual Development and Education Plans (IROP), differentiated instruction, and effective cooperation with assistants and professional teams.
● Development of a practical handbook for inclusive teaching – including concrete tools, methods, recommendations, and examples of good practice, serving as a long-term resource for teachers.
● Video series “Voice from the Classroom” – six episodes dedicated to the experiences of teachers, experts, and parents, aimed at bringing the challenges and successes of inclusive practice closer to the public.
● Online platform “Include.me” – a central digital space for knowledge exchange, access to materials, and continuous professional support, available to teachers across Montenegro.
● Media campaign – creating a positive narrative about inclusion, breaking stereotypes, and promoting schools as spaces that accept and empower every child.
“Teachers and professional associates are not looking only for theoretical knowledge, but for opportunities to apply inclusive methods in practice. It is our responsibility to provide that—through a system that understands, supports, and empowers, rather than merely records,” stated representatives of the Network for European Policies – MASTER.
The project “Include.me – Inclusion in Practice” is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, through the public call “Together We All Learn”, in partnership with the NGO Zenit. The project is being carried out in Berane, Podgorica, and online, through activities that directly strengthen the capacities of teaching staff and contribute to the development of an inclusive education system in Montenegro.
Through this initiative, MASTER contributes to aligning education policy with classroom practice, ensuring that both teachers and students have the support and resources needed for success—because inclusive education is not a privilege, but a foundation of quality and equitable learning.