Inclusion and education

CONCLUSION
Building an inclusive school in a social context 
characterized by exclusion, discrimination and lack of 
acceptance is a major challenge. Learner voices need to 
be heard, listened to and acted upon. But what learners 
experience in education systems is often the result of the 
stance the school and the wider community take towards 
their parents. Parents and communities are the pillars on 
which to build a favourable environment in support of 
inclusive education. A key challenge is to counter negative 
attitudes, stereotypes and discrimination and prevent 
their further development, as they can hamper vulnerable 
students’ education. Parents can be valuable allies but 
need sufficient information and positive interactions with 
schools. Parents of vulnerable children may be sceptical 
about sending them to mainstream schools without 
reassurance that the children will be fully supported and 
not alienated or marginalized.
While government bears the duty of education, 
grassroots NGOs and CSOs often step in to provide 
education services for populations that governments 
do not reach. Such organizations also lead the way in 
putting pressure on governments to fulfil their national 
and international obligations to guarantee the right to 
inclusive education for all. This role is recognized in formal 
monitoring mechanisms. Government leadership, dialogue 
among all parties, and a coordinated approach aligned 
with national education policies favouring inclusion 
are essential.
3 
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
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C E N T R A L A N D E A S T E R N E U R O P E , C A U C A S U S A N D C E N T R A L A S I A

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Coronavirus has made life even harder for Oleksander and his family, 
who live in eastern Ukraine. With schools closed, Oleksander has to 
wait for his mother, who works as a nurse, to return home before he 
can do his homework. This usually isn’t until 9 or 10 p.m. 
CREDIT: Oksana Parafeniuk / Save the Children

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