WORLD Policy Analysis Center

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Is disability-based discrimination prohibited in primary education?

The term ‘disability’ refers to general references to disabilities, “special education needs” or specific mentions of mental, intellectual, sensory, or physical disabilities.

No means that legislation does not explicitly prohibit disability-based discrimination in primary education broadly, or in admissions. This does not mean that legislation denies this guarantee.

Discrimination prohibited in admissions means that legislation explicitly prohibits disability-based discrimination in admissions generally, or prohibits disability-based discrimination in requirements, exams, or terms and conditions linked to admissions at the primary level–but does not guarantee a broad prohibition of disability-based discrimination in primary education.

Discrimination broadly prohibited means that legislation explicitly prohibits discrimination in primary education and/or affirmatively guarantees students with disabilities access to primary education on an equal basis with others. Legislation may use authoritative or aspirational language (e.g. if a state “aims to protect or promote equality” in education). These guarantees or aspirations to non-discrimination may be extended to: a) primary education specifically, b) all educational institutions or schools, c) the public sector, or d) compulsory education and primary education is compulsory.

Countries

Burkina Faso - No

Chad - No

Cuba - No

Equatorial Guinea - No

Gabon - No

Guinea-Bissau - No

Haiti - No

Iraq - No

Japan - No

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - No

Libya - No

Madagascar - No

Mali - No

Micronesia, Federated States of - No

Nauru - No

Niger - No

Oman - No

Palau - No

Papua New Guinea - No

Qatar - No

Samoa - No

Sao Tome and Principe - No

Seychelles - No

Solomon Islands - No

Sudan - No

Syria - No

Timor-Leste - No

Yemen - No

Cameroon - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Ghana - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Grenada - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Kiribati - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Lesotho - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Sri Lanka - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

St. Kitts and Nevis - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

St. Lucia - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Thailand - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Venezuela - Discrimination prohibited in admissions

Afghanistan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Albania - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Algeria - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Andorra - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Angola - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Antigua and Barbuda - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Armenia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Australia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Azerbaijan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Bangladesh - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Belarus - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Belgium - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Belize - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Benin - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Bolivia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Brazil - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Bulgaria - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Burundi - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Cambodia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Cabo Verde - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Central African Republic - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Chile - Discrimination broadly prohibited

China - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Colombia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Republic of the Congo - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Costa Rica - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Cote d'Ivoire - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Croatia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Czech Republic - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Dominican Republic - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Ecuador - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Egypt - Discrimination broadly prohibited

El Salvador - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Estonia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Fiji - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Finland - Discrimination broadly prohibited

France - Discrimination broadly prohibited

The Gambia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Georgia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Germany - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Guatemala - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Honduras - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Hungary - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Iceland - Discrimination broadly prohibited

India - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Indonesia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Iran - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Ireland - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Israel - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Italy - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Jamaica - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Jordan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Kazakhstan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Kenya - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Republic of Korea - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Kyrgyzstan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Laos - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Latvia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Lebanon - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Liberia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Liechtenstein - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Lithuania - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Luxembourg - Discrimination broadly prohibited

North Macedonia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Malawi - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Malaysia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Maldives - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Malta - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Marshall Islands - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Mauritania - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Mauritius - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Mexico - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Moldova - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Mongolia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Montenegro - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Morocco - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Mozambique - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Myanmar - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Namibia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Nepal - Discrimination broadly prohibited

The Netherlands - Discrimination broadly prohibited

New Zealand - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Nicaragua - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Nigeria - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Norway - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Panama - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Paraguay - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Peru - Discrimination broadly prohibited

The Philippines - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Poland - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Portugal - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Romania - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Russian Federation - Discrimination broadly prohibited

San Marino - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Saudi Arabia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Senegal - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Serbia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Sierra Leone - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Slovakia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Slovenia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

South Africa - Discrimination broadly prohibited

South Sudan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Spain - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Eswatini - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Sweden - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Tajikistan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Tanzania - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Tonga - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Trinidad and Tobago - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Tunisia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Türkiye - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Turkmenistan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Uganda - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Ukraine - Discrimination broadly prohibited

United Arab Emirates - Discrimination broadly prohibited

United Kingdom - Discrimination broadly prohibited

United States of America - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Uruguay - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Uzbekistan - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Vanuatu - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Vietnam - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Zambia - Discrimination broadly prohibited

Zimbabwe - Discrimination broadly prohibited