INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Abstract

The world is engulfed in crisis, with wars, environmental catastrophes, divisive thinking, terrorism and hatred. Political solutions seem to be failing. Only a fundamental change in society can perhaps address this growing crisis. Such a fundamental change can only happen when the right kind of inclusive education is imparted to the young. We took too long to put education as a fundamental right and changing education into inclusive education. I define inclusive education as well as sustainable development. The paper examines the role of inclusive education in sustainable development. Study investigates ‘how does inclusive education play a significant role to convince all stakeholders come together and to make a comprehensive effort which further leads sustainable development ? This paper points out that the present world crisis is not due to a lack of education only but also the kind of education we are imparting. This is the right kind of education which makes us responsible for mankind. It is very important to understand that sustainability is prerequisite for our existence. The lopsided growth has been done by the highly educated person, not by the uneducated man. So, education needs to address itself to the creation of an inquiring mind which is both scientific and religious at the same time if we are to avert the crisis facing modern civilization. So this paper actually searches the role of inclusive education to make a consensus or criteria about the needs of present generation among all stakeholders. The paper also throws light on the role of inclusive education in making objectives in context of different components of sustainability i.e social, economic, environmental and way of executing these objectives by the concerted effort of all stakeholders. This paper also covers the Government’s policy about inclusive growth and why government has to include ‘inclusive’ word in its planning. I also intend to cover initiatives of UNESCO about sustainable development.