There is a need to ensure that education is inclusive for all, including people with physical and intellectual disabilities or belonging to minority groups.

These were the sentiments shared by the Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, at the Dagbreek sensitization panel discussion themed "Inclusivity Means Access to Equitable Education for All" in Windhoek today.

Inclusivity in education for people with disabilities refers to the practise of ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to quality education and opportunities alongside their peers without disabilities.

Manombe-Ncube explained that equity in education means that personal or social circumstances are not obstacles to achieving educational potential and that all individuals reach at least a basic minimum level of skills.

"We are not talking only about access to schools for children with disabilities, but education that will make a real difference in their lives, education that will make the persons with disabilities less vulnerable, education that will give them a voice, education that opens doors that otherwise would remain shut."

She also called on the participants to explore ways to address the gaps within the education system for people with disabilities.

"We must talk to employers to find out what the obstacles are if they do not employ people with disabilities in their companies and sit around the table with them to show them how to remove those barriers. If learners with disabilities are not in the schools closest to their houses, we must engage those schools to work together with them to find solutions. It is not an excuse to say we don't know how to do it."

The event serves as a platform for thought-provoking discussions that highlight and explore ways to foster inclusivity in education.