Although 96% of children in Uganda enrol in Primary School, only one sixth of all children complete their primary education with the required minimum standards in literacy and numeracy. As is the case elsewhere around the world, children with disabilities remain one of the principal groups currently excluded from education provision, with approximately only 9% of Ugandan school-age Children with Disabilities attending primary school.
The right to a high quality education for children marginalised by disability and poverty is an urgent issue. Inclusive education can break the link between disability, family income and lack of educational achievement. Therefore, there is a moral imperative to support teachers to raise attainment and close the disadvantage gap.
A fundamental reason for the poor quality of education and exclusion of Children with Disabilities is the severe shortage of well-trained teachers who are adequately prepared for working in diverse classrooms, or equipped with the confidence, knowledge and skills to effectively support learners with disabilities.
The key to the solution lies in training teachers in effective inclusive, learner centered practices