Page 268 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

disabilities in general education through learner-centered teaching

approaches. In 2013, the Education First Policy reaffirmed the inclusion of
students with disabilities in education, and to the extent possible, should be

taught in regular classrooms. (UNESCO,2020). Recently the government

has created a plan called ‘The Inclusive Plan 2019-2030’ with the intention
of articulating five major areas in inclusive education in Sri Lanka. Those

five areas are, policy, curriculum development, human resources
development, infrastructure development and awareness on inclusive

education. According to the report commissioned by UNICEF in 2016,

23.5% of children with disabilities aged between 5-14 were excluded from
mainstream education.

Table 1: Enrolment of Students With SEN in Regular and Special
Education Units in Schools in 2012
Special educational need Number of students
Learning difficulties 17,253

Visual impaired (including low vision) 10,447
Intellectually impaired 9,172
Multiple disabilities 3,912
Behavioural difficulties 3,216

Hearing impaired 3, 074
Physical disabilities 2,610
Other disabilities 1,981

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