Forum on the implications of an inclusive education approach for curriculum development

In order to discuss the implications of an inclusive education approach for curriculum development, the IBE organised a special forum within the context of the 59th session of the IBE Council.  The IBE had the pleasure of inviting three keynote speakers to share their complementary experiences, perspectives and recommendations for making education systems around the world more inclusive, namely Prof. Mel Ainscow of Manchester University’s Centre for Equity,  Ms. Irmeli Halinen, Head of the National Curriculum Development Unit of Finland, and Prof. Juan Carlos Tedesco, Executive Director, Unit of Strategic Planning and Evaluation of Education in Argentina. Notably, each of these experts had played a key role to inform the 48th ICE discussions, at the preparation, implementation and follow-up stage:

• Prof. Mel Ainscow had facilitated the follow-up activity on “A Broadened Concept of Inclusive Education, Inclusive Classroom-based Practices and Implications for Policy Making” in the Arab region (July 2009);
• Ms Halinen significantly contributed to facilitating discussions in the IBE’s worldwide e-forum “Inclusive education to inclusive curricula” (October 2009); and
• Prof.  Juan Carlos Tedesco participated in the follow-up activity on “Inclusive Education in Latin America: Identifying and Analyzing Progress and Pending Challenges” (Chile, November 2009).

The three panelists considered how inclusive education could further accelerate the attainment of Education for All (EFA) goals and contribute to building more inclusive societies. In particular, they addressed school development towards inclusion, the central role of curriculum in this process and the complex interfaces between social and educational inclusion. This was followed by a discussion between the Member States of the Council and the experts.  For more information:

• A Summary of the key messages and presentations of the discussion (ENG, FRE, SPA, PDF, 100 KB)
• Programme and objectives (ENG, FRE), PDF, 50 KB)