Sagadraca reports before the Inclusive Education Forum, UNESCO

Associate Professor Tessie Tapiador-Sagadraca reported the output of the Asian Regional Committee on Curriculum Design and Assessment before the International Forum of Inclusion Practitioners (IFIP) held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from March 13 to 15, 2024.

The event commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the historic Salamanca Statement of Principles. It convened 150 professionals from across the globe to share experiences and insights and collectively champion inclusivity and equitable education. Ministers of education, dignitaries, and ambassadors were also in attendance.

Sagadraca was invited to the forum because of her advocacy for inclusive education, which focuses significantly on curriculum design and assessment tailored to diverse cultural and geopolitical contexts. Alongside her teammate Dr. Sunila Athley, Principal of Amity International School in Vasundra, India, they underscored the urgency of adopting flexible educational approaches to ensure the holistic development of learners’ social, ethical, and critical thinking skills.

“Inclusive Education, as a living principle of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Nos. 4-Quality Education and No. 5-Gender Equality is not an option but a fundamental imperative,” Sagadraca said.  She stressed its immediate adoption while recognizing it as an “ongoing journey involving stakeholders and neuro-diverse learners.”

Pressing concerns outlined in the meeting also included the intersectionality of various challenges such as gender disparities, violence, LGBTQ+ exclusion, refugee marginalization, racial and ethnic discrimination, physical disabilities, and the plight of children in conflict/war zones.

Participants agreed that robust policies and action plans are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of inclusive education globally. Moreover, the forum witnessed unanimous support for collaborative research efforts and exchanging professional resources to enhance educational institutions’ capacity to foster inclusive learning environments across continents.

Sagadraca, who received an award as an IFIP Senior Fellow, is finishing her Ph.D. dissertation on Gender and Development Studies and teaches General Education (GE) courses on Gender and Society at the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).

 

By: MAD German