BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: CHALLENGES OF MOZAMBICAN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS

The second half of 20thcentury saw the emergency of Universal Declaration of Human Right in 1948, with proposals to guarantee equal rights and duties to all citizens. These same were reinforced at the end of 20thcentury by the Salamanca Statement. This served as an impulse for a deep reflection on education inclusion in Mozambique. However, even after several decades of adaptation reinforcement by the National Educational System, we assert that discussing education infusing in High Education, in Mozambican context, is still premature. Despite the superficial implementation in some Universities, this article aim to discuss the barriers faced by disabled students in accessing High Education. The obtain date, a structured interview was conducted with administrative staff, which provided date on the number of enrolled disabled student. A regarding reduction in enrolment was observed, as well as limited acceptance due to the lack of institutional adaptability to accommodate special needs student. This led us to conclude that Universities Urgently needs to (1) consider the adaptation physical space to accommodate special needs individuals, (2) revise and adapt the curriculum, collaborate across sectors, and (4) invest in infrastructure and qualified human resources to ensure a fully inclusive education in high education for the social, economic, and educational advancement of the country.