Aim

This research project aims to examine the educational inclusion of children with disabilities (CwDs) in Sri Lanka and intends to develop a model more responsive to the social contexts of the country.

About Sri Lanka

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a middle-income country located in South Asia. Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with a population of approximately 22 million.

Inclusive education and the rationale for this study

Inclusive education is an international norm seeking to provide all children, including CwDs, with education in local general schools that satisfies individual learning needs as much as possible. The promotion of inclusive education has become an international trend since the Salamanca Statement was issued in 1994. However, it is inappropriate to uniformly apply this standard to all countries, including the low- and middle-income nations. This research project is significant because it purposes to present findings with international implications by appropriately investigating the educational inclusion of CwDs according to particular social contexts.

Interdisciplinary Joint international research

The comprehensive study of the educational inclusion of CwDs requires interdisciplinary research: it is insufficient to solely probe the educational perspective. This research project will be conducted by a principal researcher who has previously spearheaded studies on inclusive education in Sri Lanka in collaboration with three Japanese co-researchers from the domains of education, social welfare and anthropology. The present project also features collaborators from four research institutions in Sri Lanka as well as from two institutions in the United Kingdom and India.

Duration

This foundational research project is scheduled for four and half years between 2021 and 2025 and will ground continuing international joint research initiatives after the completion of the currently stipulated period.

Field surveys and infection prevention measures

We will strictly follow specific requirements of Sri Lanka, take adequate infection prevention measures, and arrange a flexible schedule to appropriately deal with COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic circumstances.

Grant

This work has been supported by the Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research B) of JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number: 21KK0039) from 2021 to 2025, and Heiwa Nakajima Foundation (Foundation for Asian Studies) in FY 2021.