Page 46 - EdSource Issue No02

46 Inclusive Education

accountable for implementing
antidiscrimination legislation,
legal mandates for inclusion, and
policies to remove barriers.

In conclusion, the move to entrench
inclusive education policies
worldwide based on the 1948
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights will be a game changer.
For it will give the government
and the other stakeholders the
impetus to push for the adoption
of inclusive learning as part of the
core curriculum. Currently inclusive
education is still fighting for its space
at the table. As advanced discussions
are taking place on how inclusive
education can be accommodated
not just as a ‘special needs’ class, but
as part of the education framework,
proponents of inclusive education
with disabilities themselves, behind. As such to make inclusive must continue engaging education
because they face a multitude education a reality we need to do stakeholders at all levels. So that
of barriers in terms of attending, the following: even now children with disabilities
participating in and ultimately • We need to ensure that educators and special needs are not left
benefitting from school. In addition have the training, flexibility, and behind.
there is always the issue of learning resources to teach students with
gaps – particularly because most diverse needs and learning styles.
children with disabilities either This includes strengthening the Reference:
start school late or have never teachers knowledge, skills, and
attended school. Issues of bullying, attitudes so that they can embrace Grubb,W.N & Lazerson,M.The
ostracization and negative attitudes the inclusive ethos, because they
of regular teachers make it even are at the heart of ensuring that education gospel. The economic
more challenging. Nonetheless inclusive initiatives and practices
effort should be made to overcome in schools succeed power of schooling. (Cambridge:
these challenges through constant • In addition it is important that the
communication and engagement, government and school owners Havard University press,2004).
in addition to implementing the provide adequate and sustainable
following recommendations. financial support so that there UNESCO The UNESCO Salamanca
is the necessary infrastructure,
Transforming Education and services and activities that will Statement and Framework for
Training through Inclusion fully support inclusive education
How can we advance inclusive • Parents need to assert their Action on Special Needs Education.
education? children’s right to education in
The push to improve the delivery inclusive settings, schools and the (Paris: UNESCO, 1994). (1)
of education, which has become government should support this.
a worldwide phenomenon, forms However for this to be effective
the basis for the demand to the whole community within the By Eva Naputuni
accommodate inclusive education. school setup should participate. MSc. Special Education
This has been brought on about This includes — the regular and Acorn Special Tutorials
by the necessity to focus on what special educators, social workers
the students with disabilities need at school, other parents, and the
to help them learn and grow. This able students—together the
is echoed by the Competency community should participate
Based Curriculum (CBC) learning in the designing, delivering and
framework, which focuses on the reframing inclusive education as
student as the center of learning. a shared responsibility
In the same vein there is the need • Finally we must continue to
to accommodate children with hold the central government
disabilities so that they are not left and county governments

EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021