International Day of Education 2023

As people with intellectual disabilities constitute approximately 3 percent of the population, Special Olympics calls on all governments to allocate 3 percent of their education funding to high-quality, evidenced-based inclusionary practices that fully integrate students with intellectual disabilities into school communities. Mere physical inclusion is not enough. Full inclusion in education requires a commitment to social inclusion—turning isolated students into teammates, partners, allies, friends. The need is great and the time to act is now.

According to the United Nations, most member countries of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) are not on track to ensure an “inclusive and equitable quality education” for all by 2030. Through an investment in the transformative power of social inclusion in schools, governments can make meaningful progress on implementation of the UN-CRPD and support the full achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) on behalf of one of the most marginalized demographics in the world today.

Our Unified Champion Schools programming uses the power of sport to break down the walls of exclusion and segregation and promote educational, social, and recreational inclusion. Our view is simple, and our focus is clear: if we teach children to play together, they can learn, grow, and ultimately live together. By engaging heads of state and other government officials around the world, Special Olympics will continue to advocate for increased educational funding to support the practical steps needed to fully include all students as fully valued members of their school communities.