Sara's story
This school year, over 250 children with disabilities are enrolled in inclusive schools across Azerbaijan
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Sara, 11, enjoys her classes and socializing with her classmates at her school in Baku. Besides her interest in sports and gymnastics, Sara likes reading and spending time with her friend Melisa.
“She has the same interests and dreams as other children,” says Sara’s mother Nurlana. When she was born, Nurlana was worried about education options for her daughter. But she is thankful that her daughter can go to an inclusive school with her peers. The scale up of inclusive schools has been spearheaded by the Ministry of Science and Education with support from UNICEF, enabling children with disabilities to learn together among their peers.
Sara’s school is one of 40 schools in Azerbaijan that provide inclusive learning spaces, teaching and development support to children with disabilities, helping them to learn, grow and develop side by side without exclusions. UNICEF and the Institute of Education support teachers, school leaders and psychologists, parents and communities to increase awareness and cooperation in inclusive education.
“It changes our society as children are raised seeing the diversity in the classroom and accepting it as the social norm.”
“The impact of this program is much wider”, says Nurlana. “It changes our society as children are raised seeing the diversity in the classroom and accepting it as the social norm.”
This school year, over 250 children with disabilities are enrolled in inclusive schools across Azerbaijan. UNICEF continues to support the Ministry of Science and Education, schools and communities to further expand inclusive education for children with disabilities, including legislation improvement, and ensuring schools are better prepared to provide quality inclusive lessons to children of all abilities in Azerbaijan.
