Education
Sightsavers works with local and national partners in our programme countries to promote inclusive, quality education, giving all children the chance to go to school.
It’s thought that one third of children who do not attend school – 19 million – have a disability.
Despite significant increases in school attendance over the past decade and efforts to reduce gender disparities, children with disabilities continue to be left behind, with girls more likely to miss school than boys.
And when children are denied their right to education, they become trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence.
Watch the video below for a quick overview of our work on inclusive education.
Our work in education
We work with schools, communities, governments and disabled people’s organisations around the world to ensure children are able to learn and play alongside their peers in pre-school, all the way through to primary and secondary school.
We make schools more inclusive for children with disabilities. We make sure lessons are stimulating and classrooms are as accessible as possible, and we ensure children with disabilities have the necessary equipment, receive specialist support and can learn with their peers.
We promote inclusive education throughout communities. We encourage parents to play an active part in education. ‘Mothers’ clubs’ have been set up in Sierra Leone to make school uniforms for students with disabilities, and community members in Malawi help young children to travel to pre-school using adapted bicycles.
We work with governments to improve education systems. We make sure schools get the support they need: we develop teacher training and help ministries of education collect data on children with disabilities enrolled in their schools, and promote joined-up services by linking health and social services with schools and families.
We work with disabled people’s organisations. We partner with groups across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to ensure people with disabilities have a meaningful say in education decision-making.
Our education projects
Early childhood development
We support children with disabilities in their early years, making sure they're included in pre-schools so they're set up to achieve from an early age.
Primary and secondary education
Our education programme supports children with disabilities to learn in mainstream schools alongside their peers.
How Sightsavers’ education work makes a difference
Leaving no child behindWe campaign for a fairer world
Learn moreMore about education
“I feel good whenever I go to school”
Saio has a physical disability that affects her feet and makes walking difficult, meaning she was missing out on a lot of her education. A Sightsavers-supported inclusive education project has provided transport to take her to school and training for her teachers, which has made a huge difference.
Sightsavers Ireland’s education site wins Website of the Year award
The Put Us in the Picture website teaches schoolchildren in Ireland about inclusive education and disability in low income countries.
Education, not discrimination: Malawi’s inclusive pre-schools
An inclusive education project in Malawi is challenging stigma and changing lives by enabling young children with disabilities to attend pre-school alongside their peers.
View all our education reports, guides and videos
Education resources