Appeal to encourage further steps toward the enforcement of the Law on Pre University Education for children with disabilities

The Coalition for Disability and Development (DDCA), during the period 2009-2012 has been actively involved in the discussions on drafting the Law on Pre University Education, playing in such way an important role during the preparation and adoption of this comprehensive law, by introducing concrete recommendations for inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education. DDCA welcomes the adoption by the Albanian government for undergraduate education law, which is among the most advanced legislation.

Obvious steps have been made so far but DDCA considers the measures undertaken for the preparation and approvals of bylaws, which are necessary for law enforcement, are slow and insufficient. This situation has led to failure of the implementation of the law. Children with disabilities are still excluded from the schools or do not receive education in accordance with their specific needs. DDCA aims to strengthen efforts to ensure implementation of the law in practice, also through addressing to the government this appeal to accelerate the steps in this direction and take immediate measures for the development and adoption of bylaws / normative provisions, without which this law is not enforceable.

DDCA strongly recommends to the government to create an action plan, drafted as a result of an inter-ministerial cooperation, with established priorities, actors and budgets.

DDCA, in the framework of the Global Action Week for Education brings together other actors from the Coalition for Education of Children in Albania (ACE) to raise the voice toward inclusive education.