The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Damascus University / The Special Education / and Amal Foundation for Handicapped Children, participated in a webinar about ensuring inclusive education on Monday May 18th, 2020.
The webinar aimed to ensure the participation of disabled children in education and learning, while the presentations focused on:
1- Challenges and opportunities in the field of inclusive education in the Arab countries and the vision of UNESCO:
• Before the outbreak of Corona virus
- The strictness of the existing systems and standardized methods of teaching and learning.
- Cultural beliefs and Negative attitudes.
- The Social awareness about disability issues is limited despite some improvement in the recent years.
- Real obstacles in implementing laws.
- Limited financial resources and infrastructure.
- An insufficiently supportive media despite of some positive hacks
• During and after the corona virus outbreak
- Neglecting the attention and support (both physical and psychological).
- Children and youth with disabilities do not receive the same attention and they do not form a priority with regard to providing alternative methods of continuous learning during the school closure period.
- The lack of current data about the education status of children with disabilities.
2- The basic messages and procedures during the current crisis period by collecting data and indicators as much as possible about the state of education of people with disabilities, involving decision makers, parents, the media and others about the importance of the issue, as well as providing customized and adaptable technological solutions according to the nature of each disability . Also promoting networking and knowledge sharing between partners and facilitate their access to the target categories.
3- Future procedure:
- Generalizing the inclusive education at all levels of education, from early childhood stage to university, as well as generalizing lifelong education policies and education sector policies.
- Mobilizing teachers' support and strengthening capacities to provide inclusive education for all children and youth with disabilities.
- Engaging the government agencies, NGOs and local communities to support educational programs targeting children and youth with disabilities.
- Creating and supporting the inclusive and stimulating learning environments for children and youth with disabilities.
- Setting up informational and awareness policies about the issue of educational integration.