UNESCO Supports an Inclusion Development Project in Nicaraguan Schools
With a project titled "Programas de Escuelas de Integración y Apoyo en la Comunidad" (Programs for Inclusive Schools and Community Support) the United Nations Organización for Education, Science, and Culture (UNESCO) is developing a plan for integrating students with disabilities into the Nicaraguan Education System.
The Nicaraguan Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports, joined with its own program in this initiative. The objective of the project is to study the practices leading to inclusion of persons with disabilities in primary education in Nicaraguan public schools. This initiative proposes to help schools in adopting a more reflecting and collaborative attitude, and provides diversity training for teachers and to promote educational inclusion.
The mission of the UNESCO program is to identify schools with successful results in the field of education for all children. The program will contribute to fostering teachers' capabilities and motivate them to improve their schools by the inclusion of students with disabilities.
The material for teacher training to be used by the UNESCO program is called "Special Education in Schools". The Team of Coordinators has developed an instrument to help people think about ways to use teaching methodologies to improve inclusion and achievement of children with disabilities. The first Workshop for the Program was dedicated to informing participants on research methodology.
There have been other Training Seminars to support research by teachers on inclusive education in Nicaragua. The Seminar are oriented to the educational areas that need to be improved, as indicated by the participating schools. They also offer an important opportunity for teachers and schools to share their experiences, questions and suggestions.
Unexpected positive result
An unexpected great result was achieved: after the first training workshop, the Principals became so receptive to the topic of inclusive education that they started to admit children with disabilities in the schools of the area. It is very important to emphasize on this chapter in the history of Nicaraguan education, but also to indicate that it is also a challenge. Though there is no law on inclusive education for children with disabilities in Nicaragua, thanks to the participation of teachers, some students with disabilities have been admitted since 1990.
There was also a program called: "De niño a niño en el aire" (From child to child in the air) where children with different abilities and disabilities shared their concerns, dreams, and projects.
"Our experience shows that part of the education for integration of children with disabilities uses a methodology with gradual practices of conscious raising toward inclusion. UNESCO's program "A School for All", hopes to identify the strategies and the processes of developing effective schools for all children in Nicaragua."
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