Three-day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Inclusive Education

A three-day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Inclusive Education was organized jointly by Godawari Municipality, Kailali, and Access Planet, with funding support from Girls Opportunity Alliance, from 29 August to 31 August 2026 at Namaste Hotel, Attariya, Godawari Municipality, Kailali.

The workshop was organized with the objective of contributing to an enabling environment in which children with disabilities can access quality, accessible, equitable, and inclusive education. The workshop brought together key stakeholders directly involved in inclusive education, including local elected representatives and policymakers, representatives of relevant departments from Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City and Godawari Municipality, representatives from relevant provincial government bodies, school principals and teachers, teachers from special and inclusive schools, parents of children with disabilities, representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), members of Disability Identity Card Assessment and Recommendation Committees, and other stakeholders working in the field of inclusive education

• Objectives
• To enhance understanding of disability, functional limitations, early identification, and support systems.
• To strengthen knowledge and practical understanding of inclusive education and inclusive teaching-learning strategies.
• To discuss the role of teachers, parents, local governments, provincial governments, schools, and communities in promoting inclusive education.
• To discuss accessible and inclusive assessment systems for children and students with disabilities.
• To identify barriers to inclusive education and discuss practical measures to address physical, informational, social, institutional, teaching, learning, and assessment-related barriers.
• To document key issues and concerns raised during the workshop and communicate them to relevant authorities and stakeholders.
• To encourage coordination, collaboration, and concrete commitments among schools, municipalities, provincial bodies, parents, teachers, and OPDs for advancing inclusive education.

Closing Session

The closing session was facilitated by the Head of the Education Section of Godawari Municipality, Kailali.

The closing remarks highlighted that extensive discussion and learning had taken place throughout the three-day workshop. Appreciation was expressed to Access Planet for coordinating and collaborating with Godawari Municipality in organizing the workshop.

The speaker emphasized the importance of coordination among different levels of government and stakeholders to ensure effective and consistent implementation of policies and programs.

School principals were encouraged to begin sharing the knowledge and learning gained from the workshop with their staff members through regular school staff meetings.

With these remarks and a call for continued collaboration and practical implementation of the learning gained, the three-day workshop was formally declared closed.

Challenges

Although the workshop was successfully completed, several challenges and concerns emerged during the program:

• There was a need for stronger participation and representation from relevant government bodies and commissions.
• Participants highlighted the continued existence of physical, informational, social, communication, teaching, learning, and assessment-related barriers.
• Many children with disabilities and functional limitations may remain unidentified, particularly in mainstream schools.
• There is a need for more practical implementation of inclusive education principles, as participants noted that awareness and discussion do not always translate into practice.
• Accessible and disability-friendly examination and assessment systems require further improvement.
• Schools and institutions continue to face challenges related to accessible infrastructure, assistive devices, assistive technology, and specialized support services.
• Coordination among local governments, provincial bodies, schools, families, and OPDs needs to be strengthened.
• Participants raised concerns regarding the inclusion of persons with hearing disabilities and the need for broader accessibility in future programs.
• Some logistical challenges were experienced in accommodation arrangements.
• A minor concern regarding food arrangements, particularly the level of spiciness, was also raised by participants.

Conclusion

The three-day workshop was a valuable learning and sharing platform for strengthening understanding of inclusive education. It highlighted the importance of removing barriers, using appropriate support and assistive technology, and ensuring meaningful participation of every child. The workshop concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to promote accessible, equitable, and inclusive education through continued coordination and practical action.