• Sherifa, 8, who has cerebral palsy, receives support from CBM partner Saint John of God rehabilitation technician Clement Mkhomanya. © CBM/Hayduk

Inclusive education

Education is a prerequisite for development and participation in society. It is the basis for a free development of the personality and an independent, fulfilled life. Education is a right that applies to everyone. CBM promotes inclusive education through advocacy, teacher training, and community engagement to ensure all children have access to quality education.

Eight-year-old Sherifa, who lives with cerebral palsy, with a friend on their way home from school in Lilongwe District, Malawi.

CBM partners with USAID to Promote Inclusive Development Globally

An estimated 65 million primary and lower secondary school-aged children in low and middle-income countries have disabilities, half of whom are out of school. If their fundamental right to education is not met, this limits their ability to fully participate in the social, political and economic life of their communities.   

At CBM, we believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of disability and poverty. We promote systemic change through curriculum development, awareness raising, advocacy and teacher training so that persons with disabilities around the world have access to quality education.   

We also work with civil society and governments to make mainstream schools accessible and support special schools and centres to develop into inclusive education resource centres.  

Inclusive education is part of CBM’s Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) initiative. CBID is a way of working that ensures persons with disabilities are respected in their communities on an equal basis, in all areas of life. 

Our approach

Four people standing in last green rice field.

Learn more about Community-based inclusive development

CBM’s inclusive education projects are delivered with partners and tailored to the needs of local communities. This is closely intertwined with other aspects of our work to ensure a multisectoral approach that builds inclusive, resilient communities.

This can include: 

  • Ensuring children with disabilities can access quality inclusive education even in communities affected by conflict, displacement, natural disasters or food insecurity. 
  • Using accessible e-learning or hybrid learning methods to reach children in remote areas and during crises.
  • Training teachers in the Universal Design for Learning approach to support them in tailoring their classes to meet their students’ diverse learning needs and strengthen inclusive education. 

Outreach through community workers to raise awareness of the opportunities available to children with disabilities and their families

Our work in 2023

  • 204,993 learners enrolled at our partner schools

  • 6,272 persons with disabilities received individualised education support

  • 7,545 teachers were trained as part of CBM programmes

Making education inclusive for all in Malawi

Until recently, Rashid was unable to stand, walk, or articulate speech effectively, which precluded his attendance at school. Regrettably, educational opportunities remain inaccessible for numerous children with disabilities. The likelihood of these children having never attended school is 49 per cent greater than that of children without disabilities. This situation necessitates urgent intervention because those who can read, count and write and have learnt to cope independently have better chances in life.

Rashid, 13, who has cerebral palsy, is pushed home in his wheelchair after school in Lilongwe district, Malawi. Rashid receives support from CBM partner Saint John of God rehabilitation technician Clement Mkhomanya.

Publications and resources

  • My Right is Our Future

    pdf, 5.7MB, Not Accessible

    CBM is working hard with our partners to transition traditional, segregated school systems to inclusive education in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 24. Through these joint efforts, we have helped influence the prominent focus on disability-inclusive education in SDG 4.

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  • Inclusive Education Training Guide (English)

    pdf, 15.1MB, Accessible

    This training package focuses on inclusive education. It interprets inclusive education in a broad sense as a dual process of bringing about education system change, at all levels of education, to the benefit of all learners; and supporting the needs of individual learners, especially those with disabilities.

    Download

  • Inclusive Education Training Guide (Spanish)

    pdf, 4.5MB, Accessible

    Este paquete de capacitación está enfocado en la educación inclusiva. Interpreta la educación inclusiva en un sentido amplio como un proceso dual de lograr el cambio de sistema de educación a todos los niveles, para beneficiar a todas y todos los estudiantes; y apoyar las necesidades de cada estudiante en particular, especialmente de las y los que tienen discapacidad.

    Download

  • Inclusive Education Training Guide (French)

    pdf, 6.9MB, Accessible

    Ce kit de formation porte sur l’éducation inclusive. Il interprète l’éducation inclusive au sens large comme un double processus consistant à apporter des changements au système éducatif, à tous les niveaux d’enseignement et au profit de tous les apprenants, et à répondre aux besoins des apprenants individuels, en particulier ceux handicapés.

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  • Best practice guidelines on working with people living with deafblindness

    pdf, 1.0MB, Not Accessible

    These guidelines were developed to advance understanding of the needs and challenges of persons living with deafblindness and to promote their inclusion in society. The target audience are members of the CBM Federation with particular interest to, among others staff at Regional and Country Offices, Member Associations, co-workers, partners (including governments, education agencies, public and private service providers, and professionals), as well as persons living with deafblindness and their families.

    Download

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