Seminar hosted by Norad and Fafo

Inclusive Education in Developing Countries: Building Pathways for Inclusive Futures

Thursday 12. December 2024

kl. 09:00–12:00

Norad, Infocenter 5th floor, Bygdøy allé 2, 0257 Oslo

Inclusive education is a fundamental right for all learners, yet barriers remain, particularly for persons with disabilities in developing countries. As the world moves toward the Global Disability Summit 2025, this seminar offers a timely opportunity to discuss how we can advance inclusive education.

The seminar will be held in English.

The seminar will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to exchange insights and share best practices to ensure education systems are inclusive, equitable, and supportive of all learners.

Moderator:
Tewodros Kebede, Researcher, Fafo

Program Schedule

08:30 – 09:00 – Light breakfast

09:00 – Welcome – 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.

09:05 – 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.

09:10 – 10:00 Presentations:

09:10 – 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. Presentation (pdf)

09:30 – 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. Presentation (pdf)

09:45 – 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. Presentation (pdf)

10:00 – 10:20 Coffee Break

An opportunity for participants to network and exchange ideas.

10:20 – 11:00 Field-based interventions:

10:20 – Building Competency in Vision for Tanzanian Teachers
Gunvor Birkeland Wilhelmsen, Professor em, 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. Presentation (pdf)

10:35 – Inclusive Education through Together for Inclusion (TOFI) Lessons learned from implementing inclusive education programs across Africa
Eirin Kallestad, Senior Adviser Disability Inclusion, The Atlas Alliance and Elise Bjåstad, Senior Advisor, The Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD)
A presentation on the successes and ongoing challenges faced in advancing inclusive education through the TOFI initiative. Presentation (pdf)

10:55 – The Road Ahead
Bård Vegard Solhjell, Director General, Norad

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
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.