Progress made in the area of inclusive education for children with disabilities, but challenges remainGENEVA, 1 March 2013 — UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director,
Ms. Yoka Brandt, urged Governments to accelerate their reform of the education
systems to increase support for children with disabilities. At a side event in the margins of the High-Level Segment
of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms Brandt, stated that much had been
achieved but special attention still needs to be given to the most vulnerable
and hard to reach children, in particular children with disabilities.
“Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable
and excluded in the world. Their rights are often violated, and society
loses valuable members when we allow children with disabilities to become
invisible. ” she said. Despite the challenges, many countries in Central and
Eastern Europe and in Central Asia have introduced progressive policies in
inclusive education and launched anti-discriminatory campaigns. Ministers from
Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, participated
in the side event to share about progress made, lessons learned and remaining
challenges in their respective countries. The event was co-chaired by the Permanent Representatives
of Finland and Spain to the UN in Geneva. Finland has systematically
demonstrated strong commitment towards realizing the rights of persons with
disabilities. Spain is a facilitator of the preparatory process for the
High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development taking
place in September in New York. UNICEF is working with governments to support education
systems, families and children to reduce inequities created by social
exclusion. Ms. Brandt welcomed the side event as an opportunity for
participants to share good practices and lessons learnt in the field of
inclusive education. The experience from Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS
region will contribute to the global dialogue on this issue, in the context of
the Secretary General’s Education First initiative
and is a precursor to the launch in May of UNICEF’s flagship publication, the State of the World’s Children Report
which will, this year, be dedicated to disability.
According to the World Report on Disability, one
billion people live with a disability. At least one in ten are
children, and about 80 per cent live in developing countries. Hidden at home or placed in institutions, children with
disabilities often miss out on education. Many grow up apart from their
families. If they stay at home, parents fear their children will be mocked and
taunted because of the stigma associated with having a disability. Children
with disabilities are often unwelcome in their neighborhood schools. They are
often not seen in public, nor do they get a chance to be actively involved in
their communities. Inclusive education means giving each and every child an
opportunity to learn at their local school with enough support to reach their
full potential. This, however, does not require special institutions, care,
expensive materials or specialized expertise. It simply means all
students, including children with disabilities, should have the opportunity to
receive individualized services and approaches to learning. Minister of Education and Science of the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Mr Pance Kralev, said: "We are challenging the way
children with special education needs are viewed, emphasizing their abilities
and focusing on how to remove the barriers. Recognizing that the quality of
teaching is the single-most important variable in creating quality inclusive
learning environments, we are currently rolling out, a national teacher
training programme, fully in line with the globally recognized 'social model'
for working with children with special education needs. The programme includes tools and techniques
that help teachers identify, assess, and develop individualized learning
programmes." Minister of Education, Science and Technological
Development of Serbia, Zarko Obradovic said, ''We have made it possible for
every child to be enrolled in school and crafted and designed individualized
programmes for each student. Today a third of Serbian primary schools increased
enrolment of children with disabilities into the first grade in 2010.” Deputy Minister of Education and Sports of Montenegro
Vesna Vucurovic, said: “A three-year advocacy campaign reached 80 per cent of
the population and we raised awareness so that everyone understands that
education of children with special needs is key to their future development.” Mr. J Patrick Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Down
Syndrome Ireland, representing the International Disability Alliance said:
“Education is the bedrock of society and without it change would never be
possible. Inclusive education of persons
with disabilities is vital for their development so that they can affect the
necessary change in society.” Much more needs to be done. UNICEF is continuing to call
to other governments and donor communities to support policies that realize all
children`s right to quality education as one way to reduce inequities created
by social exclusion. For more information, please contact: Marixie Mercado,
Spokesperson Jadranka Milanovic Jelena Perovic
Feature stories Publications |
