A government official said of the U.S. aid cuts to education programs: “Without follow-up training, teachers are less confident, and parents are less willing to send children with disabilities to school.”

Date: 6/26

Region: Global

Country: Global

Topic: Gender Equality & Inclusion, Education

Policy Lens: Moral Leadership

Entry Type: Field Observation

Additional Context: This information comes from a report produced by Inclusive Development Partners, or IDP, a research and technical assistance organization. Using a mixed-methods design under IRB approval from the University of Massachusetts Boston, the study triangulated a global survey of staff from 82 projects across 80 implementing organizations with key informant interviews and focus group discussions across eight countries where IDP had existing programs: Bangladesh, El Salvador, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Data collection took place between January and March 2026.

This quote is attributed to an anonymous government official. According to IDP, as a result of classroom changes, there has been a significant increase in the number of children out on the streets rather than in school. In Nigeria, where communities have experienced significant violence linked to Boko Haram, focus group participants expressed concern about rising violence and idleness among children, including children with disabilities, following the closure of USAID-supported schools.

Source: Inclusive Development Partners