Workbook final

325 – UNICEF Namibia’s This Ability Programme on Inclusive Education,

Namibia

Responsible body:

UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture; Local

and International NGOs; Private Sector

Country of implementation:

Namibia

Beneficiaries targeted:

Disable children, from pre-primary education to age of 16.

UMMARY

UNICEF’s This Ability Programme on Inclusive Education is working with the Namibian Ministry of Education, Arts and

Culture, and supporting the Government of Namibia to implement their Education Sector Policy on Inclusive Education,

which was launched in 2013 to promote quality inclusive teaching and learning environments in Namibia. Led by UNICEF

Namibia, the Programme consists of a communication campaign advocating for inclusive education, technical advice for

policy development and teacher training that is carried out with DPOs.

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UNICEF Namibia promotes the rights of children with disabilities and provides technical support to the Ministry of

Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC). Namibia is committed to realizing inclusive education. In 2013, the MoEAC

published an Education Sector Policy on Inclusive Education, in partnership with UNICEF and the European Union.

MoEAC has also conducted sensitization meetings at regional level to inform the regional education teams about the

policy and the importance of implementation and monitoring. In addition, an Education Sector Policy on Orphans and

Vulnerable Children (developed in 2008) is also being implemented. Both these policy documents place emphasis on

addressing the rights of vulnerable children in Namibia and to ensure that they benefit from equitable quality services:

education, health, nutrition, social protection and welfare and safety and protection. Both policies are part of a larger

reform of education, as defined by the MoEAC in a strategic plan for the period 2012 – 2017 that under its first strategic

theme focuses on providing accessible and equitable quality inclusive education. According to this plan, the legislative

and policy documents have to be reviewed and aligned, including the Education Act of 2001, with a focus on ensuring an

enabling environment for inclusive education. The review process started in May 2015 and will continue through to the

end of October 2015. National and regional consultations are being held with representatives from organisations of

people with disabilities in Namibia. The process includes also inputs from social media. A questionnaire (available also in

Braille) developed for the consultation is also collecting specific information on the needs of children with disabilities. In

addition, UNICEF has developed a communication strategy, which specifically places emphasis on ensuring that persons

and children with disabilities are also part of the review process and provide their viewpoints.