DARE-RC: Classroom, family and community-related experiences of children with disabilities in mainstream schools in Pakistan

The Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC) is a 30-month programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Pakistan, being implemented by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) in partnership with Sightsavers and Aga Khan University – Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). It is dedicated to conducting high-quality research, promoting the use of evidence in policymaking and fostering collaboration to address Pakistan’s critical national education challenges.

This study will answer the following research questions:

• How do children with disabilities in mainstream schools in Pakistan experience educational participation?
• What are the experiences of children with disabilities with teaching methods and practices, and how do these relate to their ability to participate in school and learning?
• How do children with disabilities experience the role of their families and their broader communities in relation to their participation in education?
• How does disability intersect with gender, socio-economic status and parental education levels in influencing children’s participation in schooling and learning?

This study explores the experiences of children with disabilities, and their families, in mainstream schools in Pakistan. The study uses qualitative methods to generate evidence for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, where existing evidence is limited. The evidence generated will support contextually appropriate strengthening of inclusive educational policy and practice in ways aligned to the expressed needs of children with disabilities and their families.

• Qualitative methods