Enhancing Access to Education for Children with Disabilities in Palestine

Palestine

The project aimed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for children with disabilities through a comprehensive approach. It encompassed components that target further encouraging the inclusion of children with disabilities in the mainstream education system; as well as enhancing the mainstream education environment to improve access by children with disabilities to schools and enhance their performance in education settings. To this end, the project addressed the main barriers: physical access to schools and the attitudes of the community, education staff and children. Furthermore, the specific needs of children with disabilities were addressed to support their access and retention in mainstream schools, through the provision of assistive devices, equipment and education materials. Project: Outputs: - A total of 17 Education Facilities; 3 mainstream schools in West Bank, 3 special schools, 3 MoE schools, 3 UNRWA and 5 KGs have been selected and supported by the project in Gaza. - With the activities implemented girls and boys with disabilities to improve their numeracy, literacy, and basic life skills through the education support provided. 73.75% of the targeted children (166 girls and 241 boys with disabilities and/or learning needs) have achieved their objectives identified in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) elaborated within the project, during the school academic years of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in Gaza and West Bank. - 6 MoE and 3 special schools in Gaza and 3 MOE schools in West Bank have their resource rooms renovated and equipped with learning kits and interactive learning tools that allow a more participatory and interactive education that is proven to lead to better learning. - Inclusive Education Practical manual consisted of 6 booklets have been developed and used for the teachers capacity building - 37 (26 females and 11 males / 22 Gaza and 15 West Bank) psychosocial counselors from mainstream and special education schools in WB and Gaza have been empowered to identify and provide support for children and their families with psychosocial distress - 9 resource rooms of 9 mainstream schools have been renovated in the Gaza strip and West Bank. - By the end of the project 65% of out-of-school children identified had been enrolled in formal and non-formal education. - 256 Children (132 boys and 124 girls / 182 Gaza and 74 in West Bank) from mainstream and special schools in Gaza and West Bank have received different ADs according to the needs’ assessment conducted for those children. - 76% of PSS sessions' beneficiaries showed an improved coping mechanism. By end of the project, 204 girls and boys with disabilities (93 girls and 111 boys/ 142 children with disability in Gaza and 62 WB) have been enrolled in to schools and KGs.