Inclusive education: Conceptual definition, principles and characteristics

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.