Albania convened a national dialogue to ensure every child a fair chance to learn

Access to education is not fairly provided to all leaving the most vulnerable behind. Education for children with disabilities in Albania is often of poor quality, while parents and teachers set low expectations, which limits learners’ opportunities. Along mainstream inclusive schools, specialized schools, which provide education for specific impairments, do still operate.  In many cases, children with disabilities are placed in mainstream classes without taking the relevant structural adjustments, such as in terms of organization, curriculum and teaching and learning methods, which although might be an attempt to integration of these children, do not constitute inclusion. The General Comment no. 4 to the Article 24 of the CRPD was a great momentum to address a series of key issues in inclusive education processes and educational reforms in Albania. UNICEF, World Vision and Save the Children in partnership with the Ministry of Education Sport and Youth alongside other national and international partners, such as the Ministry of Health and Social Protection etc., under the Leave No one Behind Programme  supported  by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, held a high-level event about Article 24. In his address, UNICEF Representative in Albania, Roberto De Bernardi, stated: “The process of inclusion is not always easy. It demands a shift in attitudes and determination to change. If the attitudes, structures and practices of the system are failing our children who might simply struggle or have learning difficulties or special needs, then it is not children who should change – it is the system itself that must change. That is what we envisage by inclusion”. The Minister of Education and Sports in Albania, Lindita Nikolla, in her greeting remarks stated: “I am pleased to reassert that we have a sector strategy and law on pre-university education in place, to which inclusion is a key pillar; we have increased the number of school psychologists, we are taking measures to provide second chance education and establish schools as community centers for learning and as inclusion hubs in their communities. In addition, doubling the number of support teachers indicates the ongoing efforts to address inclusiveness. However, we are aware that we still have a long way to go and this is why we are here today with our close partners to develop this roadmap together." The Regional Education Advisor for Europe and Central Asia region, Parmosivea Soobrayan, stated: "Although the CRPD and General Comment #4 speak to a very specific population of children – children with disabilities – the true aim of Inclusive Education goes well beyond children with disabilities. Inclusive education entails systemic reform FOR ALL CHILDREN and requires partnerships amongst many actors; many of whom are outside the traditional education system. It is particularly important to work with the health sector, social welfare and protection, environment and finance ministries, private sector and employers to make inclusion work". The event brought together 60 representatives from the Ministry of Education Sports and Youth, Regional Education Directorates, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Regional Social Services Directorates staff, civil society organizations, teachers, teacher training institutions, parents’ organizations, development partners, persons with disabilities, experts and consultants, aid development agencies, UN agencies and academia. UNICEF is one of the main partners of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth in bringing forward the agenda for Inclusive Education in Albania. UNICEF in Albania has supported the Ministry of Education  to develop the vision of Inclusive Education as part of the new Strategy of Education 2014-2020 and has supported the MOES to develop and approve the Standards for Inclusive Teachers, as well as adopt a inclusive education model  for teacher training in Albania, aiming at providing a solid foundation for training on inclusive education that pursues a human rights-based approach. As a way forward, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and other stakeholders will jointly develop a roadmap for Inclusive Education in the country in line with CRPD Article 24. Following the recommendations of this forum, we will be working to ensure that Albania has an inclusive education system in place that  guarantees all students access to inclusive learning opportunities: building inclusive schools and adapting existing ones; introducing quality standards for inclusive education; recognizing reasonable accommodation; engaging financial and human resources to move from segregated to inclusive settings; ensuring that all teachers are well-prepared to work in inclusive environments and receive support at all levels to achieve effective inclusive education.