The Agency’s 29 member countries cover most of the European continent, and they all have widely different policies regarding inclusive education, based on their different historical and political backgrounds. Despite their differences, I am extremely pleased that our member countries have now agreed a 'focal point' for the work of the Agency in the form of a shared ultimate vision for inclusive education systems!
The vision is set out in the ‘Agency Position on Inclusive Education Systems’, which sets idealistic goals for what inclusive education systems should seek to achieve. Working towards these ideals is important because inclusive education is a crucial factor in the development of socially more inclusive societies. At the same time, this shared vision sets a clear direction for the Agency’s work and guides us how we can support member countries in their efforts to develop more inclusive education systems.
The position paper describes the essential characteristics of legislation and policy, as well as the operational principles that are necessary to ensure that education systems are inclusive. I am sure it will be a source of inspiration far beyond the group of member countries and we will certainly bring it into our future discussions and collaborative relations with the EU institutions and international partners.
The position paper is now available in 23 Agency languages on the Agency website. This annex places the paper within the wider European and international policy and practice context.