United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), Bangladesh and Institute of Education and Research (IER), Dhaka University, jointly organised the 2nd forum of 'Child Friendly and Inclusive Education' workshop at the Planning Academy in the city. The theme of the workshop was 'Pedagogy of Inclusive Education'.

The speakers said though Bangladesh has signed the 'Education For All Declaration' way back in 1990 and the government sources cite impressive enrolment rate into primary schools, a good number of children still remain out of schools.

Children with physical or mental disability, children from different ethnic and linguistic minorities, children with social stigma like those of sex workers, bede (river gypsy) and sweeper community, children of HIV positive parents and working children remain largely excluded from the opportunity of education. Inclusive Education wants to include all these children with diverse needs into the mainstream education system.

Unesco Representative in Bangladesh and chief guest of the workshop Wolfgang Vollmann pointed out that pursuing Inclusive Education philosophy is crucial for attaining the goal of "Education For All", one of the most significant Millennium Development Goals.

IER Director Prof Salma Akhter chaired the workshop while Prof Nazmul Haq presented a slide show titled 'Teaching Strategies in Inclusive Education Setting" where he elaborated salient features of Inclusive Education.