A School Where Every Child Belongs

Every child deserves to feel welcomed, supported and included at school. Yet children with disabilities, different learning needs or diverse backgrounds can face barriers that affect their learning, confidence and sense of belonging.                                                        

To help address these challenges, UNICEF is working with Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education, with support from partners including the German Federal Foreign Office, to strengthen inclusive education and ensure more children have the opportunity to learn alongside their peers.

 At this school in New Damietta, that commitment is coming to life through dedicated teachers, inclusive teaching practices and learning resources tailored to children's different needs.

Mariam, a girl with a hearing impairment, is discovering new ways to learn with the support of a science teacher who recognizes her strengths and adapts lessons to her needs.

Her teacher says: "Mariam responds strongly to tactile learning, so I let her handle paper and models to better grasp the lessons. She also loves drawing, so I encourage her to draw what she understood from the lesson."

For Ritaj, learning also means creating and exploring with friends. Here, she proudly shows the tall towers they built together in the school's resource room, equipped with educational games and learning materials with support from UNICEF and the German Federal Foreign Office.

The space helps children with different learning needs develop their skills and confidence.

Janna has her own favourite ways of learning. In the resource room, she enjoys using counting frames and colourful flashcards, as well as practising her typing skills on a computer.

Inclusion also means celebrating every child's talents, regardless of their background. Mayas, a Syrian girl born in Egypt, is especially proud of her brother Ghiath, whose talent for mathematics has earned him opportunities to participate in competitions. She proudly describes him as "a human calculator."

These stories show what inclusive education can look like in practice: teachers adapting to children's needs, classrooms embracing differences and children having the opportunity to learn, build friendships and develop their potential. 

Led by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, the Inclusive Education Programme is implemented in cooperation with UNICEF, with support from partners including the German Federal Foreign Office, the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees, the European Union, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and PROSPECTS, a partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands that brings together UNICEF, UNHCR, the International Labour Organization, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. In Egypt, the partnership supports refugees and host. Together, they are helping create more inclusive and supportive learning environments where every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.