The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) held a session of its Lahore Policy Exchange on “Leaving No One Behind: The Role of Special Education in Pakistan” on Wednesday, 12th February.
Many children around the world are excluded from school, and daily life, because of disability. Inclusive systems provide better quality education for all children and are instrumental in changing discriminatory attitudes. Schools provide the context for a child’s first relationship with the world outside their families, enabling the development of social relationships and interactions. Education that excludes and segregates perpetuates discrimination against traditionally marginalized groups. When education is more inclusive, so are concepts of civic participation, employment, and community life.