Special Educational Needs: The dispute over their realisation in schools

The concept of special educational needs relates to pupils and students who suffer from a certain disadvantage (medical or social) that limits their possibilities in standard education in what is known as the educational mainstream. In practise, properly functioning special schools, including practical schools, are intended for pupils and students with such needs, but radical supporters of total inclusion of all pupils in ordinary schools are now calling for special schools and practical schools to be abolished. The controversy on this theme is on-going and is summarised in this article. The author formulates his own position, which involves an emphasis on the role that educational research ought to play in the matter of the education of pupils with special educational needs.
Prof. PhDr. Jan Průcha, DrSc., independent researcher, Varnsdorfská 333, 190 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic; e-mail: janprucha@volny.cz.