Rooting in society brings lasting change

In Nepal, the situation for children and young people with intellectual disabilities is difficult. Exposure is high and many children are isolated due to stigma.

Few have the opportunity for education and social development together with others. Estimates show that only 20-30 percent of all children with intellectual disabilities have access to education. This means that many children are deprived of the opportunity to grow up to become independent adults and instead are forced into a life of dependency and vulnerability.

But it doesn't have to be this way. The situation can be changed. By developing and introducing a model for inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities, PFPID (Parent Federation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilites) together with FUB Örebro and MyRight have shown that big changes are possible in a short time. 

Local schools and municipalities in eastern Nepal were selected for the project. In order to anchor the idea of the right to education for all and counteract continued discrimination, the partner organization Parent Association of Persons with Intellectual Disability Udaypur and Sindhuli carried out intensive advocacy work on several levels. Through articles in local newspapers, films, work through committees and collaboration with local politicians, school management, parents and other groups in the surrounding community, the project was anchored and crucial issues of stigma and discrimination came to the surface.

Resource classes for children with intellectual disabilities were formed. The teachers at the schools received training to better identify children with special needs and design meaningful and good teaching for the children. Parents received training on intellectual disability, the importance of education and how they can support their children's development.

In 2022, five school books and a teacher's guide were produced. Trainings on how the material can be used have been held and the feedback that came out has been taken into account and further developed the teacher's guide. The books are published at the Curriculum development center (CDC) under the Center for education and human resource department. It is the first time that educational materials and books for children with intellectual disabilities have been developed in Nepal and to have them published on a government platform is a great success and means great opportunities for dissemination.

Another major success is that the municipalities in question have stepped in and are now taking responsibility for inclusive education in the schools. In addition to some financial support, they provide furniture, school uniforms, accessible taps for drinking water, ceiling fans, ramps, bags and school supplies.

The project has been run during 2021 and 2022 and financed by the Postcode Foundation. The resource classes and trainings continue and inspire more similar projects in other parts of Nepal.

In addition to the important education and inclusion, the project has led to an increased understanding of people with intellectual disabilities and a more positive attitude towards the children and their needs.

"Now the other students are playing with the children from the resource classes".
Nirmala Shrestha. Principal, Pasupati primary school. 

The model with resource classes within the state schools has proven to have a great impact on the attitudes of the surrounding society towards people with disabilities and also to make the responsible authorities take responsibility for the activities. The project shows how crucial it is to work with the whole community in order to bring about lasting changes.

Only by changing attitudes can we achieve sustainable changes.

PFPID's school Shree Janata in Belaka.

Flera personer sitter på golvet i ett klassrum och läser i skolmaterial.

Teachers and students test materials for the schoolbooks produced by the project.

Postkodstiftelsen logotyp

The project was financed by the Swedish Postal Code Foundation.

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