Every student matters equally (UNESCO). Yet millions of people worldwide continue to be excluded from education for reasons which might include gender, ethnic or social origin, language, nationality, religion, economic condition or ability.

Inclusive education works to identify all barriers to education and remove them and cover everything from curricula to pedagogy and teaching.

20 % of children and young people face exclusion from education on a daily basis.

93 to 150 million children live with a disability globally.

335 million female students do not have minimum requirements for water, sanitation and hygiene.

40 % of the global population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand.

A welcoming and diverse educational environment can massively improve the well-being of students. Therefore, is important to raise students’ confidence and improve communication skills to be able to cooperate in learning.

At the school level, teachers must be trained, buildings must be refurbished and students must receive accessible learning materials. At the community level, stigma and discrimination must be tackled, and individuals must be educated on the benefits of inclusive education. At the national level, Governments must align laws and policies with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and regularly collect and analyse data to ensure children are reached with effective services (UNESCO, 2023).

Teachers and school principals/headteachers play the most important role in inclusive education. Therefore, is important to take care of an important role in inclusive education – leadership.

Influencers between them build a shared vision of inclusive education, identify and eliminate barriers for all students, adopt a critical approach to educational leadership, encourage innovation etc.

Topics:

educational influencers, inclusion plan, inclusive education, inclusive environment, safe environment