Including children’s voices in inclusive education policy

About:

A group of professionals, policy-makers and practitioners working on the national inclusive education policy wanted to listen to the voices of children and young people. Working with the Foundation for Educational Services (FES) during the national summer school programme, they asked child participants to draw their interpretations of inclusion and inclusive education. About 100 children and young people between the ages of 8 and 13 participated in the project.

Outcomes:

The participants’ drawings, views, thoughts and ideas on inclusion and inclusive education were analysed and included in the writing of the inclusive education policy.

Key element(s) of the VIA Framework:

This example particularly embodies SPACE, VOICE and AUDIENCE. Key professional actors involved in the writing of a national-level inclusive education policy created a platform for learners to share their voices. By using an accessible and age-appropriate medium, the parties in power ensured that learners could convey their thoughts on inclusion in education. Following this, the policy-makers used the learners’ information to guide them in drafting the policy.