Question

Which international declaration emphasizes the importance of inclusive education?

• A. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• B. Salamanca Statement (1994)
• C. Kyoto Protocol
• D. Geneva Convention

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Salamanca Statement (1994)

• The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education (1994): This is a landmark document that explicitly calls for inclusive education as the norm.

• It states that regular schools with an inclusive orientation are the most effective means of combating discriminatory attitudes, creating welcoming communities, building an inclusive society, and achieving education for all.

• It emphasizes that all children should learn together, wherever possible, regardless of their difficulties or differences.  

• In June 1994 representatives of 92 governments and 25 international organisations formed the World Conference on Special Needs Education, held in Salamanca, Spain.

• They agreed a dynamic new Statement on the education of all disabled children, which called for inclusion to be the norm.

• In addition, the Conference adopted a new Framework for Action, the guiding principle of which is that ordinary schools should accommodate all children, regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic or other conditions.

• All educational policies, says the Framework, should stipulate that disabled children attend the neighbourhood school 'that would be attended if the child did not have a disability.'