Quarterly Progress Report: Expanding Participation of Persons with Disability (EPPD) Follow –on Project

The project focuses on 49 schools in six regions, including Dire Dawa City Administration, Harari, Amhara, Oromiya, Somali, and Addis Ababa City Administration. The project's primary objective is to create safe and disability-friendly schools, promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities. During the reporting quarter, March 13 to May 31, 2015, Handicap International made significant progress in implementing the project. The organization conducted project introductions and launches in all project sites, with the participation of education stakeholders, including Regional Education Bureaus, Zone/Woreda Education Offices, schools, and Disability People's Organizations (DPOs). Over 248 individuals attended the launching programs, and were introduced to the project's activities, results, and objectives. The project also focused on capacity building for DPOs, helping them actively engage in promoting and expanding inclusive education. Handicap International conducted capacity building programs for DPOs, enabling them to support inclusive education in their respective regions. In terms of unforeseen obstacles or challenges, Handicap International did not face any significant issues during the reporting quarter. However, the initial phase of agreements and launching took some time, creating delays and postponements. Despite these challenges, the project remained on track, with activities implemented in line with the agreed-upon work plan. The project's status is presented under the objectives outlined in the project document. Under Objective 1, Improving the supply of quality education services and plans to support inclusive education, Handicap International organized learning and experience-sharing school visits, developed in-depth training materials on inclusive methodologies, and provided training on specific impairment-related educational needs for teachers. During the reporting quarter, Handicap International organized learning and experience-sharing visits for 20 staff members in Oromiya region, East Harargehe Zone. The participants were taken to schools in Harari region, which were part of the pilot project, to observe best practices and share lessons. This activity was postponed in the remaining sites to be implemented fully in September 2015, following feedback from schools, zone/woreda education bureaus, and taking into account the schools calendar and environmental constraints. Handicap International also provided 3 rounds of trainings for 66 teachers, reinforcing their skills and knowledge on teaching children with various impairments, inclusive education, and disability. The pre-post tests administered showed encouraging results, with the majority of teachers scoring either "Excellent" or "Very Good" after attending the training. Under Objective 2, Creating a conducive learning environment that facilitates inclusive education, Handicap International organized in-depth training on inclusive methodologies and carried out accessibility audits. The organization trained 74 members of the school community, including principals, teachers, and Parent-Teachers' Association (PTA) members, on topics such as accessibility, barriers to learning faced by children with disabilities, and how to overcome barriers. Handicap International also conducted accessibility audits, developing an accessibility audit checklist with the participation of schools communities, teachers, children, parents, and DPOs. The observation indicated that the majority of schools are not disability-friendly, with inaccessible buildings, rough playing grounds, and other barriers that need adjustment to accommodate children with disabilities. Overall, the EPPD Follow-on Project has made significant progress in improving inclusive education in Ethiopia, with a focus on creating safe and disability-friendly schools. Handicap International's efforts have been instrumental in promoting inclusive education, and the project's achievements will contribute to the creation of a more inclusive education system in Ethiopia.