A study on children with disabilities and their right to education: the Union of Comoros
Jacqui Mattingly
Jacqui has extensive experience working in developing countries on both long- and short-term consultancy assignments across Asia and the Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. As an inclusive specialist, her focus is on identifying and removing the barriers faced by the most marginalised groups not only in terms of their access, but their participation and achievement in education. Jacqui's experience extends across all levels of the system from policy development, through curriculum development to service delivery.
Lamiat Said Abdullah
This study is one of a series of three case studies conducted in Madagascar, Comoros and Rwanda into the right to education of children with disabilities
Since 1994, the government of Comoros has been committed to the EFA objectives to provide quality, basic education for every child. In 2013, the Union of Comoros joined the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and received a grant of USD 4.6 million for the period 2013–2016. One of the priority areas of the grant is to increase access to basic education for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities, and this is reflected in the Interim Education Plan 2013–15.
Lying in the Indian Ocean, at the entrance of the Mozambique Channel, the archipelago of Comoros consists of four volcanic islands: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Ndzuani (Anjouan) and Maore (Mayotte). Since the end of the colonial period in 1975, the Union of Comoros has suffered from a series of political coups which, together with Mayotte’s remaining under French control, has seriously undermined the development of the islands. The severe consequences of political instability have had a great impact on the Comorian economy.
Education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 12 but, as in other places in the region, both access and quality remain challenges.-
Other case studies in series:
A study on children with disabilities and their right to education: Madagascar
A study on children with disabilities and their right to education: Republic of Rwanda