The 10-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education

The 10-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education

launched by Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD)

(HCD – Amman) Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), launched today the 10-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education (2020-2030).

The strategy is based on the fulfilment of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (20) of the Year 2017.

The Law stipulates that MoE, in coordination with HCD, develops and implements a national comprehensive action plan leading to a system of learning that is inclusive of diversity and difference. Also, it makes sure that the access prerequisites for persons with disabilities to educational services and programmes are on an equal basis with others. In this regard, the strategy tackles the challenges pertaining to the right to inclusive education for persons with disabilities through developing the capacity of the educational cadres; adapting accessible formats curricula; and rendering school buildings and facilities accessible for all.

In his address during the launching event of the Strategy, His Royal Highness Prince Mired stressed that the Jordanian Constitution obligates the State to uphold the right to education for all citizens without any form of discrimination; a principle clearly reflected in the provisions of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

His Royal Highness also reiterated the need for concerted efforts between HCD and the MoE in implementing the Strategy’s components, which are, in effect, a reflection of the political will necessary to achieve equality, equal opportunities and non-discrimination, as well as enabling persons with disabilities to realise their right to education on an equal basis, in an environment that is free from barriers and obstacles that hinder the process of realising true and effective inclusive education.

His Royal Highness also commended the MoE’s efforts in placing the portfolio of educating students with disabilities at the forefront of the ministry’s working priorities, while highlighting the role of the German Development Cooperation, especially the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), in supporting and accelerating the process in a highly effective manner.

For his part, His Excellency Minister of Education Dr. Tayseer Al Nuaimi, underscored the ministry’s commitment to implementing the Strategy with all concerned entities to the provision of a learning environment that is inclusive and accommodative to the access requirements of students with disabilities to educational institutions and services on an equal basis with their peers without disabilities.

He added that the ministry continuously strives to conform its internal policies, laws and statutes to the provisions of international agreements on human rights, along with developing

its teaching and learning programmes, as well providing expert cadres and the right infrastructure that enables schools to become all-inclusive.

Dr. Bernd Kuzmits, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy Amman, read out a speech prepared by Her Excellency the German Ambassador Birgitta Siefker-Eberle, welcoming the launching of this strategy as testimony of the Kingdom’s commitment to education for all, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination.

The focus of German Development Cooperation is to ensure the access of children with disabilities to inclusive education and to strengthen the capacities of partners to better sustain a system of education that answers to the multifaceted nature of the needs of all students. On behalf of the German government, GIZ is carrying out a new programme “Promoting Quality in Inclusive Education (PROMISE)” with the main emphasis to support the implementation of the 10-Year Strategy for Inclusive Education.

The two-hour event also entailed the signing of the declaration of principles between HCD and the MoE, committing both parties to achieving the components of the Strategy. Members of a Consultation Committee that was tasked with developing the Strategy were recognised for their work. A film portraying local model practices in inclusive education was shown, along with testimonials by individuals with disabilities who experienced the process of inclusive education were also shared.