UNESCO advances in implementing an education information system on students with disabilities

Photos of the event

• © UNESCO / Andrés Pascoe
• Meeting in Chile

From 9 to 11 May a meeting will be held in Santiago de Chile to bring together representatives of education ministries from eight countries in the region to launch the implementation process and agree procedures for the start-up of the Regional Education Information System on Students with Disabilities (SIRIED).

The Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC/UNESCO Santiago) started work on SIRIED in 2007, given the urgent need for basic information and education indicators that address the situation and needs of students with disabilities. It is hoped that this effort will constitute an effective tool for the formulation, analysis and monitoring of public actions that guarantee equality in education opportunities.

Daniela Eroles, a Technical Assistant in the department of Inclusive Education and Education Innovations at OREALC/UNESCO Santiago, explained that the implementation process for SIRIED will begin during 2012 in eight countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Representatives of these countries will take part in the meeting, with the aim of making advances in the agreements necessary for the launch of the project.

“Despite the efforts made during recent decades in the countries of the region, the inclusion of all children, young people and adults has yet to be guaranteed; and they are still in need of an assured quality education” said Eroles, adding that “persons with disabilities form one of the most severely excluded groups. In the region, there is a lack of basic information and relevant, up to date indicators on the education situation of students with disabilities, to permit the development of education programmes and policies that meet their needs”.

Eroles holds that for this reason the path that begun with the development of SIRIED in 2007, now continues with its application in these eight countries, which is of great importance. She explains that the project will make a contribution in advancing towards achieving our goal – inclusive, quality education.

The meeting began on 9 May at 9:00 am at the Hotel Bonaparte (Mar del Plata 2171, Providencia, Santiago) and shall continue through to noon on 11 May.

More information:

Sistema Regional de Información Educativa de los Estudiantes con Discapacidad (SIRIED). Propuesta metodológica

Meeting agenda

• 09-05-2012