Albania salutes events Global Action Week for Education 2014

“EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIESâ€‌

EDUCATION AND DISABILITY

Tirana, 05 May 2014 – From 4 - 10 May 2014 all over the world, including Albania, will take place the Global Education Week. During this week, the whole world focuses its attention to the importance of inclusive education for children with disabilities.

Globally an estimated 93 million children-or 1 in 20 of those aged up to 14 years of age- live with a moderate or severe disability. In most low- and- middle-income countries, children with disabilities are more likely to be out of school than any other group of children. Children with disabilities have very low rates of initial enrolment. The denial of the right to education is one of the biggest obstacles that hinders their access to other rights and creates enormous obstacles to reaching their potential and effectively participating in the community.  

Both national and international acts guarantee the right to education for every child, regardless their ability. The UN "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilitiesâ€‌ emphasizes the obligation of States to recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education and to accomplish this right without discrimination and based on the principle of equal opportunities.

During the last years, the initiatives undertaken in the framework of guaranteeing access to children with disabilities in public compulsory education have evolved, but a great number of children that do not attend the schools is becoming a real concern.

The official data reveal that:

-          The number of children group age 0-6 years old with disabilities in Albania are 4776;

-          The number of children group age 6-15 years with disabilities are 8845;

-          The number of children group age 15-18 years with disabilities are 4165;

-          According to the State Social Service number of children with disabilities, 17785;

-          The total number of children with disabilities enrolled in kindergarten and public compulsory education is 3678, which represents only 0.63% of the total number of 576 383 children enrolled nationwide;

-          For the academic year 2011-2012 the number of children with disabilities who attend the kindergarten is 511;

-          The number of children with disabilities that attend the public compulsory education is 3167;

-          According to the data 5678 or 64.2% of children group aged 6-15 years do not attend the compulsory education.

ACCE Reccomandations:

-          Implementation of the law No. 69/2012 “On Secondary Education in the Republic of Albaniaâ€‌, specifically articles no. 64 and 65, and the Normative Provisions, Chapter XV  â€œThe Education of Children with Disabilitiesâ€‌;

-          Improved statistics on children with disabilities and publishing them online;

-          Ensuring that the supporting teacher is present in all the schools that children with attend;

-          The involvement of parents of children with disabilities in decision-making process of the school board;

-          Adaption of school infrastructure and equipment with teaching materials necessary for children with disabilities;

Albanian Coalition for Child Education with partner organizations in the framework of the Global Week for “Education and Children with Disabilitiesâ€‌ will organize a series of activities in different cities accros Albania.

-          Monday, 5^th of May, on 11:00, at Hotel Tirana, “Salla e Kuqeâ€‌, will be held the press conference that will launch the activities that are going to take place in the framework of the Global Education Week.

-          Wednesday, 7^th of May, on 11:00, will take place the activity “Piktura e Madhe e Fأ«mijأ«veâ€‌ at Parku Rinia. During the activity children will paint and each painting with be placed on a banner, which will be donated to the Ministry of Education and Sports.

-          Thursday, 8^th of May, on 10:00, at “Vأ«llezأ«rit Frashأ«riâ€‌ square, will take place the Open Lecture, which aims to bring to the attention of the Albanian politicians the problems faced by children with disabilities and their inclusion in the education system. Present in the Open Lecture will be: representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, representatives of the Albanian Parliament, the Ombudsman, the Commissioner against Discrimination, Teachers’ Union, the Federation of Education and Science, member organizations of the Albanian Coalition for Child Education, supportive organizations of the Coalition, parents, children, teachers etc.

-          National Child Helpline, ALO116-111 will publish a thematic report on cases reported by children, parents and teachers and will also organize awareness campaign in: “Petro Nini Luarasiâ€‌, “At Zef Pllumiâ€‌, “Pjetأ«r Budiâ€‌, “Kongresi I Manastiritâ€‌ schools;

-          Organizata Partnerأ« pأ«r Fأ«mijأ«t will undertake activities in kindergartens of: Tirana, Durrأ«s, Elbasan, Kukأ«s and Peshkopi to raise awareness on the importance of education for all children with disabilities. Fourteen kindergarten are piloting 3 (three) manuals on diversity and inclusion of children within the education system;

-          MEDPAK association and its partners will conduct activities in 14 elementary schools of 7 districts: Burrel, Dibأ«r, Durrأ«s, Vlorأ«, Gjirokastأ«r, Korأ§أ«, and Elbasan where a plaque which will be the motive of the Global Education Week will be unveiled. Student governments will read their messages in front of the guests.

-          MEDPAK and its partners will hold a meeting at City Hall in Librazhd, where they will invite the heads of the municipality and discuss about inclusive education;

-          "Jonathan Centre" will organize activities on behalf of the Global Education Week, in 3 first grade classes where 4 (four) children with Down syndrome that are treated in Jonathan Centre attend these classes. It will also present to the community the first advocate with Down Syndrome Mrs. Greta Kokoshi which will transmit to the participants the importance of inclusive education.

-          Observatori pأ«r tأ« Drjetat e Fأ«mijأ«ve, will conduct awareness activities in all regional offices where it operates.