Inclusive education

GPE helps make education more accessible and equitable, including for children with disabilities.

Despite dramatic improvements in access to school over the past decades, many children are still excluded from learning in safe, healthy and non-discriminatory environments. They include children with disabilities, and refugee and internally displaced children.

There are nearly 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. They are less likely to start school and if they do, they are unlikely to transition to secondary school. Their access to school is often limited by a lack of understanding about their needs, and a lack of trained teachers, classroom support, learning resources and facilities.

Children with disabilities are at significantly increased risk of violence compared to children without disabilities.

Denying children with disabilities their right to education has a lifelong impact on learning, achievement, and employment opportunities, hence hindering their potential economic, social and human development.

Inclusion means transforming schools so that they can respond to the diverse needs of all children – ensuring that they are not just present in the classroom but also safe, participating and learning.

GPE 2025, the partnership’s strategic plan, commits to leaving no child behind. GPE works with countries to make schools accessible and inclusive so that all children can learn together in safe, healthy and inclusive environments, free of discrimination.

Increased equity, gender equality and inclusion in education are fundamental to GPE’s mission.

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Our results

$1.1 billion
in GPE funding
strengthened education systems in 17 countries where refugees have access to school.
$521 million
in GPE funding
supported inclusive education in FY23.
More than 80%
of 66 COVID-19 accelerated grants
included initiatives targeting children with disabilities to ensure learning continuity.

Sources

Publications

Leaving no one behind: Transforming education systems, equitably and inclusively
Household survey data on disability and education in GPE partner countries
Factsheet: GPE's work on inclusive education for children with disabilities

GPE in action

Research and data: GPE has supported research and projects on disability, school health (including screening for disability and provision of eyeglasses), school-related gender-based violence, and refugee children. Additionally, GPE supports national governments to strengthen education data systems, including efforts to disaggregate data by disability.

Planning: GPE supported the methodological guidelines on education sector analysis, which support countries to assess the barriers facing children with disabilities.

Advocacy: GPE advocates for inclusive education at the global, regional and national levels, supports sharing research and data, and facilitates peer learning on inclusive education.

Engagement with civil society: GPE works to enhance the capacity of civil society – especially organizations of persons with disabilities - to engage in education sector planning, policy dialogue and monitoring and to promote transparency and accountability (see Education Out Loud for more).

Teacher training: Partner countries use GPE grants to train teachers in inclusive education and provide access to equipment and learning materials for children with disabilities such as braille machines, eyeglasses and hearing aids.

School improvement: GPE supports partner countries to transform schools so that they cater to all children, including those with disabilities, in a safe and healthy environment free of discrimination. Key activities may include disability screening and early interventions to provide young learners with important support needs, including assistive technologies, or communication campaigns to raise awareness about all children’s right to education.

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