Brasília, November 20, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - On Wednesday (19), the Minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, inaugurated the program "Inclusive Education, the Right to Diversity," aimed at creating inclusive policies to guarantee that children and adolescents with special needs have access to public education.

The Minister signed a cooperation agreement with the representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) in Brazil, Reiko Niimi, making it possible to develop the program in 83% of the municipalities. This week, community agents and educators from 128 municipalities are participating in a training course, so that in 2004 they can develop inclusive education projects and take care of students with special needs.

According to Minister Buarque, it is inadmissible for special children with potential to have their future damaged and be excluded for lack of support from the public sector. "Education will only be inclusive when all children have a good school and quality education," he affirmed. (DAS)