Subject of research. The article defines the meaning of education and knowledge, where educationtransforms this knowledge into an activity process, endowing it with a human meaning. It was notedthat systematic, purposeful work on the training of competent and competitive specialists in the field ofeducational services is important, taking into account the new realities of life and modern challenges.Purpose of the study. The historical and pedagogical aspects of the formation of special educationin Ukraine were studied. Significant shortcomings of the modern system of special education aresingled out, in particular uniformity, isolation, insufficient socio–practical orientation of the educationalprocess, insufficient individualization and personal orientation of the educational process, loweffectiveness of corrective and developmental classes, lack of licensed psychological and pedagogicaltools, insufficient scientific, methodological and educational support for the educational process ofchildren with severe and atypical disorders.Research methods. When writing a scientific article, general scientific and special researchmethods were used: description, analysis, generalization, and systematization.Work results. It has been proven that the management of special educational institutions is aspecial activity in which subjects, through planning, organization, management and control, ensure theorganization of the joint activities of students, teachers, parents and service personnel, aimed at achievingthe educational goals of the development of the institution. "Pedagogical management" is singled out,which covers the theory, methodology and technology of effective management of pedagogical systems,as a specific type of intellectual activity, which is implemented through a system of individual actionsand influence on the object of management, includes scientifically based analysis, forecasting, planning,organization, control and evaluation of the quality of functioning in order to achieve high efficiency ofeducational results. It is proven that an important role in the management of special educationalinstitutions is played by the competence approach, which involves the formation of subject (professional)and key (life) competencies in students with special needs, which allows applying knowledge in practice.Conclusion. It was determined that a competence–oriented approach requires a rethinking of managementpractices in special educational institutions in order to meet the requirements of modern society.