With support from the IKEA Foundation, 25 preschools in the urban poor areas of Phnom Penh have been targeted for inclusive education training provided by the Ministry of Education together with UNICEF, writes Rachel McCarthy.

 

Meas Vanna has had a long career as a school teacher in Khan Russey Keo, a suburb on the dusty outskirts of Phnom Penh. For more than 30 years, she has taught children at both primary and preschool levels. But in all her years, she remembers not one child with a disability ever entering the gates of Boueng Chhouk school. “Well, thinking back, there was once a child many years ago who I remember was unable to speak but she did not stay in school long,” Ms. Vanna said.
 

Children with disabilities often remain “invisible” in Cambodia, in many cases hidden from society, hidden from social support services and even hidden in official data and statistics. In fact, there is no official data on the numbers of children with disabilities who go to school. There is also limited information on the numbers of people with disabilities in Cambodia generally, with official surveys suggesting figures well below global prevalence estimates.
 

It is clear, however, that children with disabilities unfortunately rarely go to school, as Ms. Vanna’s experience demonstrates. This is particularly true in the outskirts of Phnom Penh, where urban poor communities are growing in numbers and where there are few preschools. Thanks to the support of the IKEA Foundation, 25 preschools in the urban poor areas of Phnom Penh, including Ms. Vanna’s, were targeted for inclusive education training, provided by the Ministry of Education together with UNICEF.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35144/inclusive-education-helps-children-thrive/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 07/02

Sounds like Ikea is doing the heavy lifting on this one while UNICEF takes a bow.