Parents, Advocates Demand Inclusive Education Reform in Edmonton, Nigeria

Advocates and stakeholders across several countries are calling for more robust and truly inclusive education systems to ensure that children with disabilities or special needs receive equitable support and opportunities. In Canada, individuals like Emily Mole highlight challenges with segregation and emphasize the importance of students with disabilities learning alongside their peers, while parents report being pressured into segregated placements. In India, inclusive education in higher institutions is seen as essential for social equity, but faces infrastructural, attitudinal, and training barriers that hinder full participation for marginalized groups. The Philippines, despite progressive legislation, struggles with fragmented data collection and inadequate support, leaving millions of children with disabilities out of school or lacking necessary resources. In Nigeria, experts and parents urge for greater awareness and a cultural shift toward accepting neurodiversity, noting that current efforts often overlook children with developmental disorders. Collectively, these accounts underscore a global need for systemic reforms, improved data, teacher training, and societal acceptance to fulfill the promise of inclusive education.