UNICEF Jordan kicks off awareness of disabled children’s right to education in Zarqa

AMMAN — Children with disabilities, their parents and disability rights activists joined UNICEF in Zarqa on Thursday to raise awareness of the rights of children with disabilities and to create community-led solutions to overcome the barriers they face in accessing quality education.

UNICEF Jordan’s Deputy Representative Ettie Higgins, activist Hala Mahfouz and Aya Aghabi of Accessible Jordan spoke at the event, attended by dozens of local parents, who participated in the discussion, and their children, according to a UNICEF Jordan press statement.

According to the latest census, 6 per cent of children aged five to 17 in Jordan have a mild to severe disability, while 1 per cent have an acute disability. Very often, children with disabilities struggle to go to school because of stigma, prejudice and lack of accessible learning.

“When children with disabilities are excluded, it is a tragic waste of potential for these children, their communities and the country. UNICEF is working with the government of Jordan to ensure that every child, regardless of their ability, has the right to access quality education,” said Higgins.

The awareness-raising event was held at a UNICEF-supported Ministry of Social Development Makani Centre. Makani centres throughout the country are playing a pivotal role in integrating children with disabilities in society, by referring them to specialised services and building their skills so that they can return to formal education.

“Inclusion is important for children, families and communities. Inclusive settings provide persons of all abilities with an opportunity to learn from each other, and accept and respect differences,” said founder of Accessible Jordan, Aya Aghabi.

UNICEF and the government are working jointly to build a more inclusive society for every child, the statement said, adding that since 2014, efforts to make schools more inclusive have resulted in 4,000 children with disabilities fully integrated into 85 public schools. These boys and girls attend regular classes and receive additional learning support.

In addition, over 1,600 Ministry of Education teachers have been trained on inclusive education and over 17,000 families reached with awareness messages. Thursday’s event in Zarqa was one of a series planned throughout the country in 2019, according to UNICEF.