1. Anneke Maarse - Pham Dzung Medical Committee Netherland Vietnam
Inclusive Education for children with disability at Kindergartens in Central Highlands in Vietnam
Anneke Maarse - Pham Dzung
Medical Committee Netherland Vietnam

2. Vietnam & disability information
Population: about 87 million
63 provinces, 687 districts, communes
GDP per capita: about 1000 USD
Disability prevalence:
about 6% - 15%
Sea
Sea
Central Highlands

3. Children with disabilities
Total number of children: 28 mil – 32% population
Total number of CWD:
CWD (6-17 years old) in estimation 2006: 995,000 (3.8%)
CWD (0-17) last update by UNICEF: 1.2 mil – 4.2%
Distribution by main types of disability
Learning difficulty 28%
Mobility difficulty 19%
Visual impairment 14%
Speech difficulty 13%
Hearing impairment 12%

4. Vietnam’s commitment for Education for CWD
Second nation that signed UNCRC 1989
Issued the Ordinance on Disability 1998, chapter 3 for Education.
Signed to join BIWAKO Millenium Frame work (BMF) – 2002
2007: Signed the UNCRP

5. Education system in Vietnam
National level
Ministry of Education and Training
Univeristies, Colleges
Provincial level
Province People Committee
Provincial Dept Education and Training
District level
District People Committee
District Dept of Education and Training
High school
16-18
Commune level
Commune People Committee
Pre-school
3-5 year old
Primary Edu
6-10
Secondary
11-15

6. Education for CWD Special Education: Since 1930s
Inclusive education: introduced by INGO since 2000s
Rate of CWD going to school: 24.2%
Rate of CWD attending Pre-school is very low

7. Medical Committee Netherland Vietnam
Since 1968
Fields of current supports: health care for vulnerable groups, comprehensive support for people with a disability.
Purpose of activities: improvement of health and quality of life of disadvantaged groups

8. Project area Dak Lak: moutainous province in Central Highlands
Population: 1.8 mil, 44 minorities.
Administration: 13 districts, 165 communes
78% of population are doing agriculture
32% of population living in remote areas
Rate of CWD: 11.2% much higher than average proportion.
Rate of CWD went to school before project (1999) : about 11%

9. Opportunities CBR network
Good relationship between MCNV and authorities
Commitment of local authorities
WB’s programme for education for disadvantaged children

10. Barriers for education for CWD
Geographical disadvantage
Limited awareness about disability
Teacher lack understanding and skills to provide education to CWD
Lack of supportive conditions to facilitate the education CWD
Poor health situation of CWD
CWD come from poor families

11. MCNV approach to IE
Comprehensive
Sustainable
Lifelong support

12. Empowerment
Support Disabled People Clubs and CWD’s parent association at community
Capacity building for these self-help groups in advocay, peer-education and counselling.
Community awareness

13. Livelihood support Provide poor CWD’s families with micro-credit
Train them to develop a household income generating plan
Follow up to support householdes in using the loan

14. Health services Home-based rehabilitation Referral network
Early detection based on Community Based Rehablitation network
Provide early intervention if need: operation, assistive devices
Counselling and advice to parents, teacher

15. Inclusive Education Promoting positive attitudes
Promoting inclusive learning environments
Promoting early intervention
Supporting appropriate policy development
Supporting change of system in education

16. Positive teacher
attitude
Alternative methods
of teacher education
Child-centred
curriculum
School for all
Appropriate teaching
Aids and equipment
Flexible teaching
methods
Supportive policies
Parent and
community
involvement
Well supported
teacher and schools

17. Education for CWD under 6
Home (community) based
Kindergarten based
Centre based: Support Centre

18. What is a Support Centre?
Organisation to support and develop Inclusive Education in the province
Functions and tasks
Human resource development of IE network
Early intervention for CWD
Special education classes
Coaching and support visits to local schools and families
Counselling to parents, teachers and other actors involved in IE
Audiological testing, make ear moulds for hearing – aids
Advice Education Dept of Province about policy and mechanism regarding to IE implementation

19. Capacity building and field support
Monthly visits by resource teachers from the centre to follow up individual education plan
Joined by teachers from district level to develop their capacity to be a resource teacher
Regular exchange meeting for teachers
Regular exchange among parents of CWD

20. Early intervention
To enhance the development of children with developmental delay, enabling condition for inclusion
Parents are key in Early Intervention
The support centre has expertise and rooms for EI; capacity of kindergartens is also developed to provide EI

21. Main achievements in Dak Lak
CWD from 3 to 6 years- old attend IE Kindergarten: 63%
For CWD under 3 years old, 75% improve their skills through home-based early intervention services
There are 69, out of 99 Kindergartens (70%) in the project area that are have a welcoming and accessible learning environment for CWD
Support Centre is well funtioning in line with its tasks, including training for management and teachers of IE kindergartens
Early detection and early intervention is integrated as a function of Kindergartens
IE is part of mainstream education in province

22. Conclusion IE for CWD needs a comprehensive approach
Parents play an essential role
Focus on children from 0-6 years old with a developmental delay is vital for succesful Inclusive Education
Inclusive education requires a change in the system of education

23. Thank you!