EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF STREET CHILDREN IN GEORGIA: NECESSARY REFORMS

Where they exist, current provisions for the care of street children in the republic of Georgia are inadequate and are incapable of ensuring the children's successful integration into the public school system or of providing them with necessary life skills. Data collected from observation, surveys, questionnaires and academic testing conducted throughout a three-year study of four day-care centres for street children proves that the addition of psychological and educational dimensions to the centres' basic social functions, the introduction of specialized staff (notably social pedagogues) and the reform of care provision processes based upon the children's individual needs significantly increases their chances for educational and social integration. This research offers recommendations for reforming the provision of education and care for victimized children in order to enable their successful integration into the public school system based upon an individual approach to their needs and requirements.