Parliament calls for inclusive education for all children in Yemen

The Children’s Parliament enables kids to participate in a formal setting, gaining experience and knowledge of governmental procedures.

Last week, the Childrens’ Parliament ended a three-day panel discussion session in Sana’a on child education.  The session was held in the House of Representatives, with the support of local NGOs including the Democracy School, Save the Children (SC) and the Children’s Center. The session addressed the implementation of an inclusive education program in Yemen with the support of SC.  Also discussed were recommendations for implementing the program’s goals.

The inclusive education program aims at providing quality education for all children in Yemen, without discrimination. Gender, social class, disability and any other basis for discrimination are to be addressed by the program. SC works with the Ministry of Education to advocate and support the Ministry of Education in developing an inclusive education strategy which will focus on improving inclusive teaching and learning based on interventions proven successful in the inclusive education schools of the SC Inclusive Education program.   These interventions include activities that address a wide-range of obstacles children face in enrollment and completion of their schooling.

The session aimed at tackling issues concerning child education and all concerned bodies’ roles in implementing good quality education for all children throughout the country. The session was not only interactive but also reflective. Members of the Childrens’ Parliament had a chance to inquire explicitly about issues that matter to them and to express their concerns. The children sought after clear answers for current shortcomings in the education system, particularly access to education for all children in Yemen. Education of girls, children of all social classes and children with disabilities were addressed.  

Several governmental and non-governmental institutions’ representatives attended the sessions. Representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Higher Council of Motherhood and Childhood, the Social Affairs and Labor Ministry, The Social fund, Girls sector in the Ministry of Education, the Education committee in parliament, the Inclusive Education Administration in the Ministry of Education, the Center for Care of Disabled Peoples and Amaan Foundation for the Care of Blind Females were all participants in the session.

Throughout the three-day session, the children discussed each institution’s role in supporting an inclusive education program for all of Yemen. The sessions were a great chance for concerned bodies to listen to children’s complaints and inquiries. It was a chance for both to interact more effectively in order to facilitate the implementation of procedures and pay more attention to deficiencies identified by the children themselves.

The sessions concluded with recommendations for all concerned bodies encouraging them to put pressure on the government in order to implement the recommendations of the Childrens’ Parliament.

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