Paradigm and paradox: Education for All and the inclusion of children with disabilities in Cambodia

In keeping with international guidelines and to meet the target of Education for All (EFA) by 2015, the Cambodian government, with assistance from non‐government and aid organisations, has instituted several initiatives towards including children with disabilities in the educational mainstream. This paper examines these efforts within the context of current socio‐political development and the general educational system in Cambodia, and argues that the cultural traditions of elitism and social hierarchy and the uniquely post‐Khmer Rouge context of severely limited human resources are paradoxical to the value of universal access and quality imbedded in EFA and inclusive education. It concludes that international guidelines for EFA and inclusive education can serve as much to circumscribe as to galvanise policy direction in developing countries

Distortions and Dichotomies in Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in Cambodia in the Context of Globalisation and International Development

This paper explores the consequences of transferring technical information on disability and inclusive education from the North to the South within the context of international development. Based on data from the author’s experiences as a US-trained Indian international consultant in Cambodia, it analyses how problems with translation and socio-cultural assumptions embedded in the terminology of disability can divert the intention of teacher training in inclusive education. The paper also examines the politics of inclusive education with regard to the disconnect between a donor-based agenda and local priorities, and discusses the complexities of the author’s own role within the context of increasing South/South cooperation

The Paradox of Majority Underrepresentation in Special Education in India: Constructions of Difference in a Developing Country

In contrast to the phenomenon of minority overrepresentation in special education in developed countries such as the United States, a paradoxical situation occurs in many developing countries, whereby majority populations are underrepresented in the educational system. The author examines some of the prevailing and traditional societal and political-economic factors specific to India that contribute to this underrepresentation, such as a paucity of resources that affects children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, gender differences in child rearing and educational expectations that affect girls, and negative attitudes toward disability

Equality, quality and quantity: challenges in inclusive education policy and service provision in India

Despite government efforts to provide services for children with disabilities in line with recommendations from international aid agencies, the 2003 Census of Individuals with Disabilities found that over 90% remain unserved. This paper identifies some of the limitations of these efforts in the context of the census findings, with particular reference to the issues of under‐representation of specific groups and identification. The 2003 Education For All (EFA) programme and recent policy initiatives, the Right to Education Bill 2005, the Action Plan for Inclusion in Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities (IECYD) 2005 and the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities 2006, are examined for their responsiveness to these concerns

Impact of the Social Construction of LD on Culturally Diverse Families: A Response to Reid and Valle

This response focuses on the effects of the current construction of learning disabilities (LD) on families of children from devalued racial/ethnic groups. Agreeing with the arguments of Reid and Valle, we add that parents from such groups are further disenfranchised because they are not participants in the critical discourse surrounding LD and because of the persistent belief that their parenting skills are deficient. We also suggest that the expectation of parental advocacy may be alien to parents whose cultures do not embrace an individualist perspective. Professionals can improve their responses to such parents by an understanding of the principle of cultural reciprocity

Diversity and Technology: Classroom Implications of the Digital Divide

This paper analyzes the intersection of technology and diversity in classrooms with reference to the implications of the inequity of access and usage for under-represented groups including low-income, minority students, students from culturally diverse backgrounds, students with disabilities, and female students. Strategies at national and individual levels to facilitate a process of digital inclusion for all children are identified