EFA is about the Right to education

• 140 000 000 children are left without education

• Countless others are being marginalized within the education system

The Scene of Exclusion

• Poverty, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, minorities

• Identify barriers

What are the main excuses?

Lack of:• Financing• Teacher training• Accessibility• Transports• Books and materials• Technical assistance

However, if there is a will there is a way!

So what are the main obstacles?

Lack of will!

Why?

Attitudes!

Expectations!

Prejudices!

Presumptions!

From Exclusion to Participation

• Denial• Acceptance• 1948 Declaration of Human Rights• 1989 UN Convention (Rights of the Child)

• Understanding

• 1993 UN Standard Rules• 1994 Salamanca Statement

• Knowledge• 2006? UN Disability Convention

• Exclusion• Segregation

– Special Education

• Integration– Special Needs Ed.

• Inclusion– Inclusive Education

• True EFA– Participation– Equality– Community

EFA has been reached when everybody is at school

100%Nothing less!

Schools are inclusive when they are working towards full participation, community and equality through:

• Respect for differences

• Respect for different learning “styles”

• Variations in methods• Open and flexible

curricula• Welcoming every-

body

Inclusive Classrooms are established through:

• Open and flexible curricula

• Problem oriented teaching

• Team teaching• Peer-teaching• Positive groupings• Individual Educational

Planning• Support when needed

Development requires CHANGE AGENTS with:

• Knowledge about realities

• Goal orientation• A strong focus• Knowledge about

– goals– means– methods– tools and techniques

Let’s make a difference together

“ ‘”All children and young people of the world, with their individual strengths and weaknesses, with their hopes and expectations, have the right to education. It is not our education system that have a right to a certain type of children.Therefore, it is the school system of a country that must be adjusted to meet the needs of all its children” (B. Lindqvist former UN rapporteur on UN Standard rules)

And yet she flies …..All you need is …

• Leaders who communicate strong support

• Open minds

• Vigorous attitude

• Energy

Want to share ideas?

ie@unesco.orgor write to:UNESCO ED/BAS/EIE 7, place de Fontenoy75352 Paris 07 SPFRANCE • or fax to: +33 (1)45685623• or visit our web site at:www.unesco.org/education/inclusive

A new UN Convention on the right of persons with disabilities is being elaborated

Article 24 on EducationState Parties shall ensure:• an inclusive education at

all levels…• That persons with

disabilities can access inclusive, quality, free primary and secondary education to the extent possible in the communities in which they live

Aiming towards?

• Open• Free• Welcoming• Professional

School Systems working towards full:

Participation,

Community and

Equality for

ALL CHILDREN