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of the goals of the Strategic Plan suggests that ICEVI should undertake
formal research activities to identify best practice in the education
of children with visual impairment in developing countries. The Research
Task Force formed by ICEVI discussed this issue at length at a meeting
on March 27, 2003 and decided to attempt to establish the variables contributing
to the effective inclusion of children with visual impairment in regular
schools. Given the vast scope of the topic, it was decided to undertake
research studies in a phased manner. To begin with, ICEVI will be undertaking
a research study in Uganda to study the ìfactors that contribute
to the
successful education of children with visual impairment in regular schoolsî.
The research team will be headed by Dr. Steve McCall, Vice-President of
ICEVI with the Secretary General, ICEVI, Mr. Wilfred Maina, Regional Chairperson,
Africa Region, and Mr. Ben Male, Sight Savers International, Uganda as
its members. The team has developed a research frame work. Sight Savers
International has agreed to meet part of the expenses incurred with this
research study. ICEVI believes that such action oriented research studies
can help Governmental and non-governmental agencies, increase educational
opportunities for children with visual impairment in
developing nations.
As a first step, the research team
visited Uganda from 4 to 8 June 2003 and held a series of discussions
with the officials in the Ministry of Education and voluntary organizations.
They also visited a range of schools attended by children with visual
impairment in and around Kampala. On the basis of their findings, ICEVI
has formulated a detailed action plan for the research and data will be
collected from July 2003 onwards. The study adopts a strong participatory
approach and the results will be shared with the stakeholders such as
the Government, Training Institutions, etc., in Uganda. The readers of
The Educator will also be updated on this key development from time to
time.
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