The Czechoslovak State Institute for the Blinds in Levoča, 1922
The oldest educational institute for the blind in Slovakia is Czechoslovak State Institute for the Blind in Levoca today’s United Boarding School on the Stefan Klubert Square 2 in Levoča.
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Affairs made an agreement on the establishment of the Institute on 25 January, 1922. In October 1921 Adolf Fryc, former administrator of Deyl Institute for the Blind in Prague, came to Levoča. On 1 May 1922 entered 9 of 11 registered – 5 girls and 4 boys aged 8-15 years. He placed great emphasis not only on teaching but especially on the development of social skills needed in everyday life. In the next school year (1922/23) they accepted another 17 inmates and the school was educating a total of 27 children in two classes.
The education was done in accordance with the teaching curricula of primary schools. In school year 1923/24 there was added regular musical education. Piano and music theory was taught by a blind Anna Linhartová and violin by Štefan Oltványi-Novoveský. This is only a brief excursion into the history of the school and memory of the school’s first teachers.
The modernization of the school began in the 80s of the 20th century with the strong support of Sweden and Germany. After 1989, the teachers and pupils started to use new teaching aids from other countries. Since September 1991 there is also established a school special educational counseling. Backed by Hilton Perkins Foundation they paved the way for the education of visually impaired children with severe physical disabilities. Since 2003 the school is wheelchair accessible.
The current 95-year-old school is a modern educational institution for children and students with visual, mental or physical handicaps, as well as for children with impaired communication capabilities.
Since 2010 the school bears the name United boarding school, Stefan Klubert Square 2 in Levoča.
Organizational units of the schools are:
Primary School for students with visual impairments
Special primary school for students with visual impairment
Special kindergarten
Primary school for students with impaired communication ability
Practical school
In school year 2016/17 the school in cooperation with the civic association Feman actively works on projects: Blue World 2016, Social inclusion in the culture and Light-water-darkness. The project includes workshops focusing on artistic and musical activities. In school year 2016/17 the school educates:
25 children in kindergarten, of which 5 students have visual impairment (VI) and 16 students with multiple disabilities (MD);
38 VI and 40 MD in the primary school;
The practical school educates 18 students including 14 MD, others have mental disabilities.
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