Chapter 1. Observing social rights In 2019, the Commissioner also made six monitoring visits to local education authorities and institutions of vocational-technical education in Kyiv, Sumy and Cherkasy regions, O.O.Bohomolets National Medical University and M.P.Drahomanov National Pedagogic University. A total of 12 institutions were monitored. Following the results of monitoring visits and consideration of citizens’ appeals, the Commissioner identified a number of issues regarding the realization of human rights and freedoms of citizens in the field of vocational-technical and higher education. Access to vocational-technical education and free choice of vocational-technical institution by Ukrainian citizens regardless of their region of residence In the context of decentralization, funding mechanisms for vocational-technical institutions to receive money from the state and local budgets (budgets of oblasts, cities of oblast importance – oblast centres and the budget of the city of Kyiv) have changed. Under these conditions and due to insufficient funding of the sector, a number of vocational institutions decreased, and as of 01.01.2019 amounted to 736 (compared to 814 in 2014)21. The monitoring revealed the facts of inadequate funding of vocational-technical institutions by the bodies of local self-government in the cities of Sumy and Cherkasy were established. It aggravated the problem of access to vocational-technical education and free choice of vocational-technical institution by Ukrainian citizens irrespective of their region of residence. The outdated material and technical resources of institutions, the lack of qualified teachers, the mismatch of the content of education and teaching methods to the requirements of the modern labour market and the personal needs do not contribute to improving the quality of vocational-technical education and improving its reputation. Inconsistency of effective legislation regarding the implementation of organizational and managerial functions in relation to vocational-technical institutions, financial and economic issues, delaying the development of the draft Law of Ukraine “On Vocational-Technical Education” do not contribute to the realization of human rights and freedoms of citizens in the field of vocational-technical education. Ensuring the right to education for persons with special needs No effective measures have been taken to create appropriate conditions for education of persons with special educational needs (persons with disabilities) in vocational-technical institutions. As of 01 January 2019, 4,100 persons with disabilities study in such institutions (1.6% of the total number of students of vocational-technical institutions)22. 21 According to the State Statistics Service, www.ukrstat.gov.ua/. 22 According to the Ministry of Education and Science, http://mon.gov.ua/ua/tag/profesiyno-tekhnichna-osvita. 47 CHAPTER 1 During the reporting period, the Commissioner considered 39 appeals submitted by school children, students, as well as their parents to restore the right to receive higher education, proper scholarship, to obtain the benefits provided by law.