Providing Diverse Pathways to Education for Children with Disabilities

ECW celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities, highlighting a range of education supports available to children with disabilities in Ethiopia

By Education Cannot Wait

December 2^nd, 2023

Special contribution by UNICEF Ethiopia, Geneva Global and World Vision.

All children have the right to a quality education that allows them to learn, dream and grow. However, for the 240 million children with disabilities worldwide, access to education has historically been inequitable and too often denied. This is especially true for the girls and boys on the frontlines of crises, including in Ethiopia.

Children with disabilities face countless roadblocks to learning in Ethiopia – from armed conflict, poverty and displacement, to cultural taboos that keep them out of school and lack of resources to accommodate them when they’re in the classroom.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, is committed to providing access to quality inclusive education for all children. Through ECW’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in Ethiopia, partners like UNICEF Ethiopia, in collaboration with Geneva Global, Oromia Development Association, Development Expertise Center, Imagine 1 Day and World Vision, are reaching children left furthest behind in the country with the hope and opportunity that quality education provides.

Accelerated Learning

“Previously, there was no way to bring [my children with disabilities] to school for no one had given attention to help them. Besides, I was refrained from exposing them to socialization because of taboo in our society. Thanks to ECW, they now have access to education.” ~Kimia Hassen

Kimia Hassen was surprised and thrilled to receive a knock at her door inviting her children to attend school. Education had previously been out of reach for her three children, all of whom are living with a disability.

Twelve-year-old Rewda Abdi and her ten-year-old brother Agnale Abdi are children with vision impairment. Following door-to-door registration during a back-to-school campaign, all three children now attend the Biftu Genema Speed School and have developed a love of learning. Rewda now aspires to be a teacher herself.

The accelerated learning programme, funded by ECW and implemented by Geneva Global, offers an entry into the school system for out-of-school children, including children with disabilities. There, they attend formal classes over the course of 10 months that support them in gaining the core skills they need to catch up and succeed in school. Students are provided with assistive devices when necessary, and their teachers are trained in inclusive practices. Kimia Hassen is happy with the change she has seen in her children, who were confined to the home before beginning school.

Inclusion begins in the classroom, and with this support, Rewda, Agnale and their brother Feti Abdi are now learning and thriving alongside their peers.

“I would like to thank my classmates and teachers who have been supporting me to acquire literacy skills and build my self-confidence, despite the difficulties I’ve experienced. I have a dream to be a teacher.” ~Rewda Abdi, 12

Hibo Mohammed and her three children, two of whom have a disability, in front of their home where they received home-based instruction. © UNICEF Ethiopia

Home-Based Learning

“My children were facing many problems, including discrimination. The challenges associated with children with disabilities are very serious, sometimes even their families do not support them to get an education.” ~Hibo Mohammed

In Migra Kebele, Oromia, Hibo Mohammed used to spend most of her days at home, caring for her three children – two of whom have disabilities. Thirteen-year-old Shoyeb has a physical disability which limits his mobility, while 8-year-old Emran has low vision. Though they were all at an age to attend the local school, discrimination in the community prevented Hibo from enrolling them.

Still believing that her children needed and deserved an education, Hibo took matters into her own hands. With the support of Geneva Global, Hibo trained to become a home-based instructor – allowing her to run home-based learning from her home for Shoyeb and Emran.

Shoyeb Muhammad, 13, takes part in classroom activities alongside his peers. © UNICEF Ethiopia

Home-based instruction is available to all children in the area that are unable to attend formal schooling – whether due to the conflict in Ethiopia or their disabilities. The main objective of this programme is to keep children who cannot attend school engaged and encourage curiosity, a positive attitude towards learning and greater self-confidence. The programme creates a pathway to education and, with the help of supportive family members and neighbors, children with disabilities can prepare for a formal school setting in a convenient and comfortable environment.

Today, all of Hibo’s children are enrolled in the local school and learning alongside the other children in the community.

“I am happy to see my children receiving an education equal to their peers.” ~Hibo Mohammed

Now, a typical day for Hibo begins by watching her boys head to school with the help of their classmates who push Shoyeb’s wheelchair. With her children at school, Hibo now has time to invest in herself and has joined a self-help group that is training her on income-generating activities to help build a brighter future for her and her children.

With targeted, inclusive and holistic support, Hibo and her entire family have discovered a path to success that begins with a quality education.

Targeted Support in the Classroom

Children with disabilities who begin their schooling at the Speed School or through home-based instruction often do so with the goal of joining a formal and inclusive classroom setting. Young Gizat and his classmate Tsigereda attend a local school in Ethiopia and are now excelling in their studies after receiving targeted support from World Vision, part of the ECW-supported programme in the country.

For Tsigereda, a student in grade 2, reading and writing has always been a challenge due to her vision impairment. Since receiving eyeglasses, she is able to see more clearly and learn more easily. Tsigereda is now thriving at school and feels more confident to pursue her dreams.

“I aspire to become a doctor in the future to help treat patients. I am delighted with the positive changes in my life.” ~Tsigereda

Tsigereda discusses her dreams for the future as she gains foundational skills in school, thanks to her improved vision with eyeglasses provided by ECW and World Vision. © World Vision

Gizat used to have trouble hearing his teachers and classmates at school, impacting both his academic and social success. ECW investments ensured that he was able to receive a hearing aid.

“After getting a hearing aid, I hear properly what my teacher and friends are saying. I'm doing well in my education.” ~Gizat

Children with disabilities have the right to access information in an equitable way to their peers without a disability. With their new hearing aid and eyeglasses, Gizat and Tsigereda are able to take part in activities in and outside of their class with more ease and confidence.

Gizat engages in classroom learning with the assistance of his hearing aid thanks to ECW and World Vision. © World Vision

The Value of Disability Inclusion

Unfortunately, offering alternative routes to education and inclusive settings for children with disabilities is still not the norm in many parts of the world. When compared to their peers without disabilities, children with disabilities are 49% more likely to have never attended school, 42% less likely than other children to have foundational reading and numeracy skills, and 41% more likely to feel discriminated against, according to UNICEF.

Both Kimia and Hibo felt the discrimination their children experienced and fought for their right to an education. The inspiring work of ECW’s partners in Ethiopia demonstrates the possibility and far-reaching impact of disability inclusion in education. No matter what point a child with disabilities is at in their schooling journey, there are pathways to education equality with their peers.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ECW calls on the international community to step-up support and funding to reach the children left furthest behind in the world with the power of an equitable and inclusive education – children like Rewda, Agnale, Feti, Shoyeb, Emran, Gizat and Tsigereda deserve no less.

Student takes notes in her class in Ethiopia. © UNICEF/Ose

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