Guinea

Children wave from inside the School for the Deaf and Mute in Conakry.

credit: Elizabeth Reiter

Children with disabilities are often excluded from education in many developing countries. Barriers they face include lack of accessible facilities in schools, lack of appropriate resources and materials and discrimination. An estimated 40 million children who are out of school have disabilities. Most of these children have moderate disabilities that are not often visible or easily diagnosed. Others may have speech difficulties, learning difficulties or physical disabilities.

Did you know…

• Children with disabilities in developing countries are likely to never have attended school.

• Fewer than 5% of children with serious disabilities are expected to complete primary education.

• Making schools accessible for disabled children is generally less than 1% of total construction costs.

• A World Bank study reports that disabilities may be the single most important factor excluding children from schooling.

Resource: Check out the World Bank Education Note entitled "Education for All: Including Children with Disabilities" on the resources page. See resources»