Progress Toward Agenda 2030: Volume 21

This chapter focusses on contradictions within existing legislation to develop an equitable and effective educational system for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It highlights tensions between the underlying aims of the legislation and the implementation of policies, specifically on admissions and exclusions with reference to the current government proposals for an increase in Alternative Provision (AP). It considers the response of Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) to ensure an acceptable practice of inclusion while raising overall standards of attainment. It also considers the Government Green paper response to increasing pressure from parents for more appropriate levels of support for their children with SEND.

Significant progress towards the provision of a more equitable and inclusive education system in Ireland has been made in recent years. Through an interrogation of the research that has influenced changes in national policy and practices, this chapter includes a discussion of associated literature, which addresses national inclusive education priorities in Ireland. Building upon a method for reviewing the literature applied in Ireland as part of a major longitudinal study (Rose et al., 2010), a discussion of the current situation is presented in relation to progress towards the Education for All Goals and key issues for further scrutiny are proposed.

Europe is comprised of geographically and politically diverse countries, with different cultures and languages, at different stages in their progress towards achieving inclusive education for diverse ranges of learners. This chapter discusses cross-country collaborative work conducted within the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education. The work supports countries in meeting commitments to Sustainable Development Goals in Quality Education, by developing and implementing more inclusive education systems. This collaborative approach is based on a shared vision and evidenced-based key principles to guide policy development. It highlights the challenges alongside the progress achieved in European Country contexts towards SDG 4 targets.

This chapter provides an overview of the inclusive education policies in Ghana and how these policies were developed toward fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Number 4. We start the chapter by introducing Ghana's demographics and awareness in disability, as well as the historical background in inclusive education. Next, we address the current state of Ghana's inclusive education by sharing the current policies and infrastructure that transforms special education schools into resource centers, promotes a learner-friendly environment, and serves as the legal foundation for private and public schools to implement inclusive education for all children. We further discuss the challenges imposed by the recent wave of the COVID pandemic on inclusive education, and the initiatives Ghana leadership enacted to provide a continuum of inclusive services for all children. We then conclude the chapter with implications and recommendations to stakeholders.

The birth of a non-racial and democratic South Africa in 1994 created great anticipation that society and education operating under the Apartheid government would be transformed. Education policies and education guidelines based on the South African Constitution now acknowledge the rights of all students from diverse backgrounds and abilities to access quality regular education. Against the background of Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this chapter analyses initial and more recent policies and implementation guidelines to develop an equitable inclusive education system to identify barriers to inclusive education and possible levers for change.

Many students drop out of primary school, and those who finish are less prepared to live independently because of limited education outcomes and little academic preparation to help them succeed in life in Lesotho. The adjunct of COVID-19 added to these challenges but also showed possibilities for future inclusion in Lesotho. This chapter refers to the Kingdom of Lesotho Voluntary National Review on implementing the 2030 Agenda Report to discuss progress made on inclusive education in Lesotho. The chapter also explores barriers to inclusion, disparities affecting inclusion and equity, and future considerations to address challenges and enhance inclusion practices.

Inclusion has gained incremental attention in Lebanon especially since it has been associated with quality education, being the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) as declared by the United Nations. Efforts have been made by public and private institutions to ensure that learners with disabilities get inclusive education, and progress has been noted despite several challenges further aggravated by the pandemic and the financial crises. This chapter presents a close examination at the condition of inclusion in Lebanon as it thoroughly studies all elements of inclusion with the assessment of challenges alongside the discussion of feasible solutions.

This chapter discusses the current state of inclusive education in Azerbaijan and builds connections to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). It focuses on Azerbaijan's progress toward SDG4 targets, such as early childhood development, general education, and pedagogical higher education. In this article, the history of inclusive education in Azerbaijan is described, relevant education policies are reviewed, definitions of inclusiveness and inclusive education are provided, compared with international standards, and the main challenges are pointed out. Moreover, the chapter discusses the challenges of the reform process and inclusive education during pandemics and war crises.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has been in effect since 2019. It has impacted people's lives differently, and education is one of the biggest challenges. In Myanmar, apart from the pandemic, the Coup d’état in 2021 crippled development across many sectors, including education. Consequently, they interfered with Myanmar's progress toward inclusive education in line with Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4). A brief overview of Myanmar's progress and challenges in implementing inclusive education is provided in this chapter. Furthermore, it aims to bring ideas on how inclusive education in Myanmar could improve in the aftermath of the pandemic and coup.

One of the most efficient approaches to overcome the factors that hinder the right to the education of children and simultaneously to create an upsurge of inclusion in education is the advent of alternative schools. This is because this type of educational arrangement for children better serves the diverse characteristics of each child; thus, it is deemed to be a prominent way of alternatively delivering inclusive education in the future. This chapter explores the status quo of inclusive education in Thailand and provides the recommendations on how to overcome the shortfalls with alternative education.

By adopting the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), Cambodia has experienced various precarious progress and challenges in implementing inclusive education due to the rudimentary inclusion concept prevalent in the country. This chapter denotes updates on the progress of policy implementation, progress of inclusive education programmes by sub-sectors, progress of pre-service and in-service teacher training, and challenges of inclusion at school levels. Moreover, it deliberates the perspectives and implications of effective inclusion with a focus on policy support, teacher education reform, availability of data, and monitoring and evaluation paradigm to achieving Agenda 2030 in Cambodia.

Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), based on the principle of leaving no one behind, ensures that equitable and quality education, as well as inclusion, are available to all, promoting opportunities for those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable including persons with disabilities (PWDs). The Indonesian government has demonstrated a commitment to the rights of PWDs in education. In this chapter, the history, the present, and the future of inclusive education will be presented following the master plan for the development of inclusive education. Strategies including accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and collaboration will be discussed as well as the challenges in implementing inclusive education.

In 2014, Japan ratified the CRPD, which spurred to the development of domestic laws; however, the education section of the Convention does not clarify how to educate children with disabilities in inclusive education. Thus, while the global inclusive education goal advocated by UNESCO and other bodies concerns education for all, inclusive education in Japan is seen as education for children with disabilities, and the philosophies and practices are very different. Therefore, this chapter introduces the policies and current practices of inclusive education in Japan and discusses the possibilities for school education reform from the perspective of real inclusive education.

Political, historical and socio-demographic conditions in Australia have shaped the implementation of inclusive education and backgrounded current responses to Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the Education 2030 Agenda. The analysis presented in this chapter highlights Australia's patchy endeavours to provide inclusive and equitable programmes at all levels of education and vocational training, particularly in relation to diverse learners and those with Indigenous backgrounds. Findings point to the need for Australian federal and state governments to collaborate, legislatively and financially, to better support policy enactment around the Education 2030 Agenda in partnerships with stakeholders at national, state and local levels.

This chapter considers the current status of inclusive education in New Zealand in relation to the UN's Agenda 2030 initiative and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). It outlines the history of the development of special education and inclusive education in New Zealand and provides a critique of policies and practices regarding education for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Policies on inclusion are considered in relation to those in other developed countries, and recommendations are made for future policy and practice for the education of children with SEND.

Canada is a member state in the United Nations. In 2015, Canada adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a global initiative that envisions a world where member states will improve economically, socially, and environmentally by attaining 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. This chapter focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. A review of Canada's national strategy for mechanizing realization of Goal 4, a snapshot of Canada's midpoint progress, and recommendations for next steps and future considerations are presented.

The principles of a fair, equitable, and quality education are embodied in both federal legislation in the United States and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Goal 4 (SDG 4). However, inclusive education has remained fairly static since passage of SDG 4 in 2015. In this chapter, we posit that the primary levers influencing the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education content and classrooms is a result of the policies governing special education, in addition to the stigmatization of disability. Furthermore, how intersectional identities serve to segregate students with disabilities from their peers is explored.

Mexico is a large, culturally and linguistically diverse country. More than half of its population lives below the poverty line, a fifth is of indigenous origin, and 5% have a disability. This chapter offers a brief description of the general characteristics of the country and the legislative changes toward inclusion and presents the status and progress toward the 2030 Agenda educational goals toward inclusive education. Although efforts have been made to improve the quality of education and inclusion, the country's complexities: poverty, cultural diversity, and political adjustments, among others, have held back progress, as will be explained in this chapter.