The outcomes of the Agency’s fourth Hearing ‘Inclusive education: Take action!’ are now available on the Agency website. The Luxembourg Recommendations were created based on the discussions and input from the seventy-two young people who participated in the European Hearing on 16 October 2015.
The event took place under the aegis of the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union, aiming to empower and ensure the involvement of learners in shaping educational policies. Young people with and without disabilities came together to discuss how their schools and communities ensure an inclusive education for them.
During the Hearing workshops, young delegates discussed key issues related to the implementation of inclusive practice: ways in which their schools support them in their education, examples of how teachers and classmates take into account their needs, accessibility, class organisation and suggestions for ways to overcome remaining barriers to inclusion.
The recommendations were then presented to the Council of Ministers during the 'Education, Youth, Culture and Sport' meeting on 23 November 2015 as well as at the last Education Committee on 2–3 December 2015.
Five messages
The Luxembourg Recommendations are grouped around five key messages expressed by the young delegates:
- Everything about us, with us – young people should be directly involved in all decision-making that concerns them;
- Barrier-free schools – all physical and technical barriers must be eliminated;
- Breaking down stereotypes – what lies behind the concept of ‘normality’. If we accept that everybody is different, who is then ‘normal’? People should behave with mutual respect and tolerance;
- Diversity is the mix, inclusion is what makes the mix work – everyone should focus on what can be done, not on what cannot be done;
- Becoming full citizens – inclusive education is a crucial aspect to full inclusion in society. It is essential to be included in mainstream schools in order to be included in society.
During the Hearing, the young people also described in concrete and practical terms what universal design means for them, why peer-tutoring, co-operative learning, and individualised programmes have a positive effect on their education.
The following videos about the event and the young people's impressions at the Luxembourg Hearing are available on the Agency’s YouTube channel.
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Inclusive Education: Take Action!
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