Research on Inclusive Education in Estonia

Inclusive education has been a leading principle for the management of education in Estonia since the Basic Schools and Upper-Secondary Schools Act was enacted in 2010.  A recent research project, entitled ‘Inclusive education of SEN students and the effectiveness of related support measures’, mapped the situation around early detection of and support for learners with special educational needs (SEN). It found that more learners with SEN are attending mainstream schools, but they are mostly educated in separate special classes. Academic achievement is becoming more difficult for learners with SEN at higher levels of the education system. The research report is online (in Estonian only), with a summary available in English. For further statistics on inclusive education in Estonia, please refer to the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education’s Data web area.