08:30 – 09:00 – Light breakfast
09:00 – Welcome
Bård Vegard Solhjell, Director General, Norad
09:05 – The Importance of Inclusive Education
Thomas Poulsen, Head of Section, Section for Education and Research, Norad
A brief overview of Norway’s international efforts toward advancing inclusive education and promoting disability rights ahead of the Global Disability Summit 2025.
09:10 – Voices from the South: Key Challenges and Opportunities
Sirina Mahamadu, National Vice President, Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations
Highlighting critical issues in inclusive education from the perspective of persons with disabilities in developing countries.
09:15 – 10:05 Presentations:
09:15 – Understanding the Educational Landscape for Children with Disabilities in Africa
Huafeng Zhang, Researcher, Fafo
An exploration of the levels and variations in education for African school children, with a focus on those with disabilities.
09:35 – Approaches to Inclusive Education in a selection of low income countries
Rolf Bjarne Fasting, Professor, OsloMet and Rune Hausstätter, Head of Department, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
A presentation on various strategies and practices for integrating inclusive education into different learning environments.
09:50 – Does it Matter Who We Are? Identity and Disability in Education
Anne Kielland, Researcher, Fafo
This presentation will explore how the intersection of identity and disability shapes experiences of inclusion and exclusion in educational contexts.
10:05 – 10:25 Coffee Break
An opportunity for participants to network and exchange ideas.
10:25 – 11:00 Field-based interventions:
10:25 – Building Competency in Vision for Tanzanian Teachers
Gunnvor Birkeland Wilhelmsen, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
A case study focusing on training teachers on the impact of vision and vision problems in inclusive education in Tanzania.
10:40 – Together for Inclusion (TOFI): Achievements and Challenges in Inclusive Education
Eirin Kallestad, Senior Adviser Disability Inclusion, The Atlas Alliance
A presentation on the successes and ongoing challenges faced in advancing inclusive education through the TOFI initiative.
10:50 – Experiences from Inclusive Education Programs in Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar and Somalia
Elise Bjåstad, Senior Advisor, The Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD)
Lessons learned from implementing the Inclusive Learning Approach across different countries in Africa.
11:00 – 11:55 Panel Discussion: "The Road to Inclusion: Multi-pronged Perspectives"
A dynamic panel discussion that brings together various voices to discuss how inclusive education can be effectively implemented across contexts.
Panelists:
- Elin Ruud, Senior Adviser, Section for Education and Research, Norad
- Anne Kielland, Fafo
- Eirin Kallestad, Atlas Alliance
- Elise Bjåstad, NAD
- Gunnvor Birkeland Wilhelmsen, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Rolf Bjarne Fasting, Oslo Met or Rune Hausætter, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
The panel will address the complexities of advancing inclusive education from policy, practice, and community perspectives. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in an interactive Q&A session.
11:55 – 12:00 Closing Remarks and Seminar Conclusion
