BERLIN, April 2 (WSH) — As the Global Disability Summit kicked off today in Berlin, leaders from around the world were called upon to rally support for inclusive education, particularly for children with disabilities affected by conflict and crises.
In a joint statement issued at the summit, Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), emphasized the urgent need for coordinated global action to ensure that all children — including those with disabilities — have access to quality education.
“Education for All Must Mean All”
“We cannot achieve universal education or fulfill basic human rights if we continue to leave children with disabilities behind,” the statement read. “This is the very foundation of our collective efforts to build a better world through the power of education.”
Frigenti and Sherif highlighted the critical role inclusive education plays in promoting peace and resilience. Equitable access to learning, they said, fosters social cohesion and political stability while breaking cycles of displacement and armed conflict.
Staggering Numbers in Crisis Contexts
Currently, an estimated 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, many of whom face significant barriers to education. According to ECW’s recent Global Estimates Report, 234 million school-aged children in crisis-affected areas require urgent educational support — with 85 million out of school entirely. At least 20 percent of these out-of-school children — approximately 17 million — are children with disabilities.
“These learners are among the most at risk, especially in humanitarian and fragile contexts,” the joint statement said. “Their needs and rights must be at the center of crisis response strategies.”
Call for Inclusive Investments and Policy Engagement
GPE and ECW urged global leaders, donors, and partners to commit to inclusive, multi-year financial investments that prioritize marginalized children, especially those with disabilities.
They also called for the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in emergency preparedness and national education planning processes. Systematic data collection on disability, alongside broader equity indicators, was emphasized as key to designing effective, evidence-based interventions.
“Best practices must be widely shared to tackle intersecting barriers to access, participation, and learning in emergencies,” the leaders added.
A Defining Moment
Describing the summit as a vital opportunity, the statement concluded with a powerful message: “We must redouble our efforts to build education systems that are inclusive of all children. The promise of ‘education for all’ must be fulfilled — and that means truly for all.”
The Global Disability Summit, hosted this year in Berlin, serves as a pivotal platform for governments, civil society, and international organizations to renew their commitments to disability inclusion across sectors, with education at the forefront.
