AGENCY eBULLETIN October 2019

This eBulletin brings you news about the Agency’s participation in the UNESCO International Forum on Inclusion and Equity in Education and the second European Education Summit. You can find out about the Agency’s support to member countries in the framework of the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme. There is information about the open call for Inclusive Education in Action case studies and the upcoming Regional Forum for Europe on ICT for All.

The Agency has also recently finalised two new materials, which you can learn more about below.

The Agency at the UNESCO International Forum on Inclusion and Equity in Education

Agency Director Cor J. W. Meijer emphasised the importance of financing and teacher education during a panel at the International Forum on Inclusion and Equity in Education, which took place on 11–13 September in Cali, Colombia.

Mr Meijer joined a panel on ‘Inclusion and Equity in and for Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4)’. Participants discussed obstacles to achieving SDG4 Target 4.5 and Agenda 2030’s commitment that ‘no one will be left behind’.

For more information about the Forum and the Agency’s involvement, visit the Agency website.

Agency Support via the Structural Reform Support Programme in Greece and the Czech Republic

In a continuation of the Agency’s work with the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP), the Agency will be providing technical support to the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (MERA) and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT). This is in addition to the activities currently underway with the Ministries of Education in Cyprus and Poland. The Agency’s role is to assist in on-going work towards inclusive education and to design reforms of special education provision.

In Greece, the goal is to empower mainstream schools to respond to the diversity of all learners, in line with the shared European vision for inclusive education systems. The kick-off meeting took place in Athens in July. Learn more on the Agency website.

In the Czech Republic, the Agency will support work towards more inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all learners in the Karlovarský and Ústecký regions. A kick-off meeting took place in Prague in August. Find out more on the Agency website.

Inclusive Education in Action Case Studies

The Inclusive Education in Action (IEA) website presents a collection of important and interesting case studies from around the world. The case studies describe diverse policy approaches to develop inclusive education systems, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030. These case studies can be used as a resource for policy-makers working to develop equity and equal opportunities within education systems globally.

Recently published case studies encompass inclusive education policy and practice in China, South Africa and more. There is an open call for case studies, which are added regularly to the website. New studies from all countries presenting material on the move towards inclusive education are welcomed for consideration. Learn more about the IEA website here.

Agency participation in second European Education Summit

Agency Director Cor J. W. Meijer took part in the Second European Education Summit in Brussels on 26 September.

The Summit was based around the theme of ‘Teachers first: excellence and prestige for the European Education Area’. Mr Meijer was part of a panel session entitled ‘What are the key constitutive elements of an inclusive education “ecosystem”?’.

Find out more about the Summit on the Agency website.

Regional Forum for Europe – Accessible Europe: ICT 4 All

The International Telecommunications Union and the European Commission are organising a Regional Forum for Europe on ‘Accessible Europe: ICT 4 All’. Hosted by the Maltese Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Aging, the Forum will take place in St Julian’s, Malta, on 4–6 December 2019. In addition to opening up registration for the event, organisers have put out a call to action for participants to contribute information, enter or sponsor the competition and participate in the Evaluation Committee. Visit the Agency website for more information.