We Ring the Bell campaign
The campaign to sensitize families and communities on the education of children with disabilities dubbed "We Ring the Bell", was launched today May 4, 2023 at the Yaounde 6 Council.
Presided over by the Minister of Social Affairs in the presence of the Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, this campaign is coorganised with the Ministries of Basic, Secondary, Higher Education, Employment and Vocational Training and the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS).
The theme for this year-long campaign is "From Policy to Practice: Inclusive education for children with disabilities in Cameroon and the objective is to evaluate public action towards the education of children with disabilities and to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 which calls on member states to promote inclusive and equitable quality education for all learners.
The Executive Director of CBCHS Professor Tih Pius highlighted some of the works CBCHS has been carrying out with different institutions and in various regions in recent favour of inclusive education for children with disabilities. He highlighted some challenges that need to be addressed for children to enjoy inclusive education. He recommended that the Ministry of social Affaires and the Ministries in charge of Education should create a community of practice group with regular working meetings in order to continue moving from policy to practice.
The Minister of Social Affairs in her launching speech highlighted the fact that inclusive education is in line with the Head of State's policy of social inclusion and his firm will to fight against social exclusion. She brought to light progress made with regards to inclusive education and called on parents and communities to send children with disabilities to school in order to ensure that no one is left behind.
The Minister of Social Affairs led the ringing of the bells that lasted for a minute. She signed the manifesto as a commitment to education for children with disabilities.
