1. A Progressive Vision of Inclusive Education in Palestine
Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation
A Progressive Vision of
Inclusive Education in Palestine
Rima Canawati
2016

2. MOEHE Inclusive Education Strategy
Why this strategy?
To address the needs of persons with disabilities focusing primarily on interventions which aim to improve the quality of services provided for persons with low vision and total vision loss

3. UNCRPD Article 24 And Guiding Principles
What guides us?
UNCRPD Article 24 And Guiding Principles
Non-discrimination
Right to quality education in accessible inclusive environments
Right to development
Best interest of the child
Respect

4. Purpose of the strategy
To promote the rights of persons with vision impairment so that they could enjoy quality learning in inclusive environments, become active participants in their communities and have better opportunities in life.

5. Increasing life quality through
Granting quality education in inclusive environments
Increasing life quality through
Enhancing the quality of services through strong partnerships
Community empowerment through Awareness and Advocacy
Improving responsiveness towards access

6. Granting quality education in inclusive environments
Strategies
Resource Centers
Capacity Building
School Inclusion
Text Books Availability
Granting quality education in inclusive environments

7. Community empowerment through Awareness & Advocacy programs
Strategies
Community empowerment through Awareness & Advocacy programs
Awareness raising on disability issues for attitude change
Advocacy to influence policy change
Creating advocates through DPOs empowerment

8. Strategies
Knowledge accessibility
Physical accessibility
Access to health
Access to sports, leisure and arts
Access to further education/training
Improving responsiveness towards access for persons with vision impairment

9. Enhancing the quality of services through strong partnerships
Strategies
Enhancing the quality of services through strong partnerships
Other Ministries
Eye care providers
Education providers
Grassroots organizations
International organizations working in the education

10. Challenges to be tackled
Political and economic insecurity and instability
Policy/legislative gaps and implementation challenges
Disability Law legislative provisions do not match UNCRPD expectations
Inclusive education is still perceived in terms of special education and disability issues

11. Challenges to be tackled
Lack of financial resources;
Lack of specialized human resources in the field of
vision impairment
Lack of needed specialties in the field of vision
impairment at local universities;

12. Challenges to be tackled
Existing gaps between the different stages of education: preschool, primary and secondary education (academic, technical and vocational) and higher education;
Existing gaps between the education reality and the labor market demands and needs on one hand, and the prerequisites for sustainable development on the other.

13. Most salient features of Palestine Inclusive Education Strategy
It is guided by the UNCRPD
It is comprehensive and tackles key elements for promoting full inclusion:
Facilitation of learning processes;
Supporting communities to acquire knowledge on disability;
Providing access;
Developing collaboration among all relevant actors.

14. Most salient features of Palestine Inclusive Education Strategy
It follows a twin-track approach
It involves all relevant stakeholders
It emphasizes community empowerment, awareness raising and advocacy
The strategy has been evaluated by an independent group of professionals focusing on various aspects

15. The strategy is a good example to be followed by other developing countries  

16. Thank You