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Preamble
The International Council for Education of People with
Visual Impairment (ICEVI) is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-sectarian
global association of individuals and organisations that represents educators
of blind and low vision (partially sighted) children and youth throughout
the world. ICEVI promotes equal access to appropriate quality education
for all visually impaired children and youth so that they can achieve
their full potential.
The World Blind Union (WBU) is the only organisation
entitled to speak on behalf of blind and low vision (partially sighted)
persons of the world, representing 180 million blind and visually impaired
persons from about 600 different organisations in 158 countries. WBU promotes
appropriate quality education in either integrated/inclusive education
programmes or at special schools for all visually impaired children and
youth so that they can achieve the best education possible and reach their
full potential in life. The parentsí informed choice, access to
trained teachers, and the availability of essential equipment and materials
are the guiding principles which will ensure high-quality education.
ICEVI and WBU
Conscious of the gross inequalities in educational
opportunities for blind and low vision (partially sighted) children and
youth, especially in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin
America, where 90% of all children with visual impairment live and where
less than 10% of these children currently have access to any type of formal
or non-formal education:
# Affirm the human right of all children who are
blind or have low vision to equal access to appropriate quality education
as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the
World Declaration on Education for All (1990), the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disability (1993), the
UNESCO Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action (1994), and the Dakar
Framework for Action (2000);
# Urge all governments, which have not yet done
so, to include the special educational needs of children with visual impairment
in their respective National Education Plans for achieving Education for
All by 2015 which were to be submitted to UNESCO by the end of 2002, as
agreed and committed to at the World Education Forum, April 2000;
# Request all governments to also ensure adequate
financial provisions for the successful implementation of the above plans
for children who are blind or have low vision;
# Endorse the concept of child-centred pedagogy,
as enunciated in the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special
Needs Education, 1994;
# Support inclusive education as one of the alternative
models of service delivery, on condition that all necessary steps are
taken to first put in place the required number of teachers trained in
the special needs of blind and low vision children and the essential support
systems, the necessary equipment, Braille books, and low vision devices
to guarantee true inclusion;
# Promote a high-quality education in special
schools as an alternative to inclusive or mainstream education;
# Recommend and advocate the continued support
for valued alternative forms of education, both formal and non-formal,
for those who cannot benefit from an inclusive, integrated or special
education programme;
# Encourage the provision of early detection,
early intervention, and pre-school services which include the parents,
other family members, and the community in general;
# Assure governments of their joint and separate
fullest support, especially in terms of advocacy, professional advice,
and technical assistance.
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