Inclusive education: Conceptual definition, principles and characteristics

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the foundations for the idea of inclusive education. The key arguments in favour of inclusion do not exclusively pertain to education, but involve significant ethical and social factors as well. A review of different definitions of this concept is given. Attempts to describe the concept of inclusion and inclusive education comprise different and often opposed standpoints, making this idea controversial. Inclusion simultaneously refers to social and educational values, as well as to personal values of an individual. Inclusive education is discussed as a concept, movement, theory, philosophy, process, educational practice, and educational policy. There is still considerable disagreement over the understanding of certain terms, which, in practice, leads to some misunderstandings and discrepancies. The paper focuses on key characteristics and principles underlying this concept of education. The key principles are defined based on the ideas about children’s rights, equality, and quality of education.

U radu je dat osvrt na osnovna ishodišta na osnovu kojih je nastala ideja o inkluzivnom obrazovanju. Ključna argumentacija koja podržava inkluziju nije isključivo obrazovne prirode već uključuje i značajne etičke i socijalne faktore. Dat je pregled različitih definicija ovog pojma. U pokušajima određenja pojma inkluzije i inkluzivnog obrazovanja postoje različita, često suprotstavljena stajališta, što ovu ideju čini kontroverznom. Inkluzija se istovremeno odnosi na društvene i obrazovne vrednosti, ali i na individualne vrednosti pojedinca. O inkluzivnom obrazovanju se govori kao o konceptu, pokretu, teoriji, filozofiji, procesu, obrazovnoj praksi, obrazovnoj politici. U domenu razumevanja pojedinih termina postoji još uvek značajna neusaglašenost koja na praktičnom planu proizvodi određena nerazumevanja i protivrečnosti. Ukazano je na ključne karakteristike i principe koji stoje u osnovi ovog koncepta obrazovanja. Ključni principi su definisani na osnovu ideja o dečijim pravima, jednakosti i kvalitetu obrazovanja.