Palestine: New national education campaign
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© CBM
Minister of Education Mrs. Lamis Al-Alami, Mr. Lawrence F. Campbell; the Immediate Past President of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), and Ms. Tanja Kern, Director of CBM Eastern Mediterranean Region signing the contract
On 13th Feb. 2011 the national campaign 'Inclusive education for all children with visual impairment in Palestine' was launched by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Ramallah in cooperation with the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) and CBM.
Objectives of the campaign 'Education for all'
'Education for All Children with Visual Impairment' (EFA-VI) is a global campaign and programme of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) acting in partnership with the World Blind Union (WBU) to ensure that all girls and boys with blindness and low vision enjoy the right to education. The Campaign is focusing on children in the developing countries where currently it is estimated that less than ten percent have access to education.
The Campaign works within the framework of the general and special education system of countries and initially focusses attention on awareness and demand creation for education of children with visual impairment. Key aspects of the campaign are provision of appropriate support in educational settings and creation of alternative settings to reach out to un-reached children.
Key stakeholders of the campaign
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©CBM
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Children in class room at Community Centre of Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation
The Palestinian Authorities in general and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE - website in Arabic only) in particular support a rights-based approach and the concept of inclusive education. Relevant public policies and plans have been developed in light of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and other international conventions and guidelines.
The Ministry of Education is the key stakeholder and coordinator in terms of a EFA-VI Programme. The ministry will cooperate and coordinate with other line ministries, particularly with the Ministry of Social Affairs who have built up major expertise in disability-related issues and thus can be an important resource and supporter of the multi-stakeholder initiative and the national plan.
The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment is a global association of individuals and organizations that promotes equal access to appropriate education for all children and youth with visual impairment so that they may achieve their full potential.
The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR) is a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, one of the largest service providers in the field of disability in the West Bank.It provides centre- and community-based services for all Palestinians. BASR follows an human-rights based approach to disability.
CBM focuses on support for low vision services, the audiology department and community programmes.
