Inclusive Education
In inclusive education, all learners have equal opportunities to go to school, study and develop their skills. Regardless of their individual qualities, learning readiness and background, all learners participate in the same group or the same learning and educational environments. Support for learning is then arranged or introduced into these groups for the learners. The diversity of learners and their unique qualities are valued and viewed as potential for the entire learning community.
The arranging of inclusive education requires action at several levels of the educational and learning environment, in early childhood education as well as the school system. It requires the personnel of the education and learning environment to be committed to the principles of inclusive education and to receive training on them. Moreover, the learning environment must be accessible, as must the teaching materials and communication. The people in the learning environment need to be sensitive to possibly discriminatory practices and ready to address them immediately. The education and learning environment encourages people to consciously practice working together and promotes a democratic and inclusive lifestyle. National regulations support the promotion of inclusive education. (See e.g. Butler & Naukkarinen, 2017; Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education, 2022; Juvonen et al., 2019.)