Education

Every child has the right to a quality education. Sightsavers is part of a global movement to transform education systems and provide inclusive, equitable education for children and young people with disabilities.

In Zambia, Grace attends an inclusive school through the Tusambilile Chapamo project. Image © Sightsavers/Tom Jenkinson

Worldwide, there are 240 million children with disabilities, according to data from Unicef.

Children with disabilities are more than twice as likely to miss out on going to school than children without disabilities. This inequality is even greater for girls with disabilities, who may experience both disability and gender discrimination.

Many education systems struggle to reach out-of-school children and don’t have quality, inclusive curriculums. Currently, the education sector is making inadequate progress towards Goal 4: Quality education of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prioritising inclusive education will help address inequality and get SDG 4 back on track, supporting all children to reach their potential.

Our programmes and in-house research prove that transformative change is possible when education systems are inclusive. Both children with and without disabilities benefit and thrive when they can learn and play together.

Across Africa and Asia, we work with schools, children, teachers, parents, communities, governments and organisations of people with disabilities to provide and promote inclusive education. And we collaborate with partners at a global level to ensure that inclusive policies are at the heart of every education system.

Work with us

Let’s work together to end inequality in education.

Ready to make a difference?
Download key information for funders and donors.

Watch the video below to see how we’re strengthening inclusive education for the future in Zambia through the Tusambilile Chapamo project.

We’re championing every child’s right to education

Our education strategy

We’re proud to be part of these global education networks

British Expertise International logo.
Basic Education Coalition logo.
Global Campaign for Education logo.
International Disability and Development Consortium logo.
PAL Network logo.
United Nations Girls Education Initiative logo.
UKFIET logo

Our approach to education

  • We support education for children with all types of disability, from early childhood development through to primary and secondary school and tertiary education
  • We collaborate with governments to improve education systems and help ministries of education collect disability data
  • We promote joined-up services, linking health and social services with schools and families
  • We support schools to develop teacher training, plan stimulating lessons, provide accessible classrooms and access specialist equipment so all children can learn with their peers
  • We encourage community involvement, from parents’ clubs making school uniforms to community schemes supporting children to travel to pre-school on adapted bicycles
  • We work with organisations of people with disabilities to make sure education decision-making processes are inclusive and informed by lived experience
  • We have a specific focus on making sure girls with disabilities are not left behind
A teacher in Nigeria outs her arm on a student's shoulders as they stand at the blackboard.

Transforming inclusive education

In Nigeria and Kenya, two innovative education projects have enabled children with disabilities to reach their potential.

Read the story

Inclusive Futures: We lead UK Aid’s flagship disability inclusion consortium programme

Visit the Inclusive Futures website

More about education

Abubakarr stands in front of an ornate wooden door.
Sightsavers stories
Stories / Disability and inclusion /

Abubakarr’s story: “Being blind has made me a stronger person”

From begging on the streets of Sierra Leone to attending an inclusive school, Abubakarr is now realising his full potential and on the path to a bright future.

Mariana Rudge.
Sightsavers blog

Moving from intention to action is key to inclusive education for all

Following the Global Disability Summit, Sightsavers and the Global Partnership for Education share how world leaders can achieve quality schooling for children with disabilities.

Sightsavers, May 2025
Veronica Stapleton.
Sightsavers blog

To achieve quality education for all, disability inclusion is critical

At the CIES conference, there were many examples of innovative uses of digital technology, but strategies for reaching children with disabilities were rarely discussed.

Veronica Stapleton, April 2025

View all our education reports, guides and videos

Education resources