Researchers and advocates meet to break barriers in inclusive education

Researchers, students, education partners, and disability advocates from around the globe gathered at the UR Regional Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and E-Health (CEBE) for a three-day hybrid workshop focused on breaking barriers to inclusive education.

Over the course of the workshop, participants developed strategies to strengthen partnerships aimed at advancing equitable access to quality education for learners with disabilities. They also created a platform for policy dialogue involving stakeholders from government, higher education institutions (HEIs), civil society, and disability organizations.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Abraham Haileamlak Mitike, Principal of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, noted that the University of Rwanda takes pride in this transformative project, which aligns with both national and global priorities to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

“Education is a fundamental human right ; it is therefore our collective duty to ensure that no one is left behind because of disability or any other circumstance,” said Prof. Abraham.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Edward Kadozi, Director General of the Higher Education Council, commended Rwanda’s efforts to make education accessible to all learners. According to him, more children with disabilities are entering and completing school than ever before.

“Providing inclusive education at all levels is not doing a favor ; it is a human right that must be implemented without exception,” he emphasized.

Among the participants was Aychesh Nigussie Koski from JAMK University of Applied Sciences. She urged attendees not to leave the workshop with good intentions alone, but with concrete commitments, plans, and strategies to turn inclusion into reality.

The workshop was organized under the Breaking Barriers in Education : Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Technology (BERT) project, jointly implemented by JAMK University of Applied Sciences and Tampere University (Finland), in collaboration with The State University of Zanzibar (Tanzania). It was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland through the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).