Children with disabilities in Cameroon will in the days ahead, benefit from quality education like their peers with no disabilities thanks to the adoption of the National Policy of Inclusive Education in Cameroon this October 8, 2024 in Yaounde.
The event which had as chair, the Minister of Basic Education, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, had in attendance, the Minister of Secondary Education and other actors in the education sector.
After a series of presentations on how the document came about and its content, those present, validated the document which will be implemented for a start from 2024 to 2028.
In his address to the assembly, Minister Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa insisted that the document stems from the inequalities that existed in Cameroon’s educational system in the past.
The Basic Education boss appreciated the improvement thus far and emphasised the need to make more progress by developing the National Policy of Inclusive Education (NPIE).
About the National Policy of Inclusive Education
The National Policy of Inclusive Education is the Government of Cameroon’s plan for developing inclusive education in Cameroon from 2024 to 2028.
The need for this document stems from the low enrollment or training rate of people with special needs.
It is therefore the hope of stakeholders that the NPIE will serve in improving enrollment rates in schools and training institutes for everyone especially people with special needs.
The target groups for the NPIE include people with less visible disabilities, those with visible disabilities, socially vulnerable people, people with chronic illnesses and even those without disabilities.
Since education is a broad sphere, key stakeholders charged with the implementation of the National Policy of Inclusive Education in Cameroon include the Ministries of Basic Education, Secondary Education, Higher Education, Employment and Vocational Training, Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Social Affairs and Women’s Empowerment and the Family, amongst others.
Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi
