When the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted in 2006, it included a commitment to a more inclusive education for people with disability. The promise was for all people with disability to be guaranteed the right to an inclusive education at all levels, regardless of age, without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity.

While there has been considerable progress in the eight years since the CRPD was adopted, not enough has been done to ensure an inclusive right for the education of children with disabilities. Most of the 150 million children with disabilities remain excluded from a quality education, and children with disabilities continue to be less likely to start school and less likely to complete primary school or move on to secondary school.

This is plainly unacceptable. We cannot continue leaving children with disabilities behind.