Project launched for ensuring quality education of children with disabilities

Sightsavers, ADD International Bangladesh, and Sense International are implementing a consortium project named ‘Education for Children with Disabilities, which falls under the Task Order 45 of the FCDO- funded Disability Inclusive Programme, says a press release.

The project has been officially launched on February 15, 2023 at Hotel Amari in Gulshan of  Dhaka.

ADD International, Centre for Disability in Development, Gana Unnayan Kendra, Sense International and Sightsavers jointly organised the launch event.

Shah Rezwan Hayat, director general of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) attended the event as chief guest while M. Abdul Salam, chief executive of Gana Unnayan Kendra presided  over it.

The project aims to improve educational outcomes and provide equal access to education for children with disabilities, particularly those with complex and multiple disabilities, both those in school and out of school.

It further aims to promote inclusive education through strengthening school infrastructure, planning systems, improving referral pathways and home based education.

Speaking as the chief guest, DPE director general Shah Rezwan Hayat said, “The government of Bangladesh is  committed to ensure inclusive education in the country and many initiatives have been taken to enrol students with disabilities in the primary schools. However, there is a greater need for government and non-government collaboration to strengthen the system and achieve even better results.”

In the welcome remarks, Sightsavers Bangladesh country director Amrita Rejina Rozario said, “The outbreak of COVID-19 has left severe impact on the education of children with disabilities as schools have been closed for nearly two years from March 2020 until February 2022, with only brief intermittent periods of reopening for certain groups. This situation rendered many children vulnerable – especially those with disabilities – and at risk of not returning and dropping out of school.”

The keynote paper presented by Syeda Asma Rashida, project manager-inclusive education, Sightsavers shows that the project will collaborate with 45 primary schools in three upazilas in two districts of Bangladesh: Narshindi Sadar upazila in Narshindi district, Sirajgonj Sadar and Tarash upazila under Sirajgonj district.

Moreover, the project will support families and enable 533 children with disabilities to go to school and achieve better learning outcomes.

Mohammad Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, director (administration) of Department of Social Services, S.M. Zahidul Hassan, deputy director of National Foundation of Development of the Disabled Persons (JPUF), Ghulam Faruq Hamim, head of programmes at ADD International, AHM Noman Khan, executive director of Centre for Disability in Development, officials from the DPE and representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities among others spoke on the event highlighting challenges and promoting education of children with disabilities in Bangladesh.