Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for Herne Bay and Sandwich (including West Thanet)
 

Whilst 63% of African children are now finishing primary school in some countries only 2% of disabled children reach this stage[1].  Those few disabled children in Africa who do attend school face multiple challenges; a lack of specialised equipment, lack of parent and community involvement, inaccessible school facilities and learning environments, poorly trained teachers without the awareness of the needs of disabled children and negative attitudes amongst their peers. As a result most disabled children in Africa never complete their primary education, even fewer attend secondary school and the vast majority are excluded from their age-group and community and later in life face problems obtaining employment. It follows that there is a direct causal relationship between childhood disability, insufficient access to education and poverty in adulthood. 
 
Despite inclusive policies in many African countries, inclusive education barely exists. A genuinely inclusive education policy requires a change in attitudes, knowledge and practice and a significant increase in resources, so that children with a full range of abilities are genuinely offered equal opportunities.