Ensuring quality education for all continues to be challenged by growing inequality, discrimination and exclusion.

Concern for social inclusion in education has long been associated with a traditional conception of inclusive education aimed at the mainstream participation of learners with special educational needs. While important, learners with impairments and special needs are not the only individuals and groups for whom effective and continuous participation in quality education remains a challenge.

Many other groups of children and youth -- including girls and young women, those who are working, who are forced to seek refuge or are displaced, orphans, those who belong to linguistic, cultural or religious minorities, and those living in situations of extreme poverty, insecurity and of conflict – continue to be excluded from quality education.

It is now recognised that the challenge of achieving education for all is not solely one of access and initial enrolment, but also of regular attendance, retention, attainment and achievement. The educational exclusion of vulnerable groups of children and youth, however, is not a purely educational matter and requires a holistic approach that embraces cultural, social and economic factors that shape learners’ environments.

“Focusing special efforts in the most disadvantaged communities sends the signal that quality education is for all.” (Final communiqué of the Ministerial Round Table on Quality Education, Paris, 4 October 2003: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php@URL_ID=16438&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html ). Focusing on education and social inclusion implies understanding the range of situations of exclusion that impact on the fulfilment of the right to quality education for all, identifying the barriers to participation in quality education for individuals and groups which experience discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion, and sharing experiences in creative and innovative ways of overcoming these barriers.

 This forum discussion invites you to share your thoughts and experiences by exploring the following questions:

1. In your opinion, what are some of the dimensions of social inclusion that should be taken into account in educational policy making?

2. What are the some of the new emerging barriers to inclusion and which groups of children and youth are considered to be the most vulnerable?

3. What are some creative and innovative measures that have been taken to overcome barriers to educational inclusion?

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