The concept of Inclusion and its values
| Stránky: | Moodle ZČU |
| Kurz: | KPG/INED - Inclusive education |
| Kniha: | The concept of Inclusion and its values |
| Vytiskl(a): | Nepřihlášený host |
| Datum: | pondělí, 9. listopadu 2026, 02.13 |
1. What is inclusion?
Although inclusive education is a strongly accented topic in education globaly today, it is not easy to clearly define it. There are many views and opinions on defining this phenomenon which agree at a few elementary points. The core principle of inclusion combines the idea of respect for diversity and the individual's right to equal membership in the community and society (Lombardi, Kappa 1999). It brings a positive view of those who have so far been perceived rather negatively as those who differ from their peers or majority members.
As a key idea of inclusion we might share the statement that "Being different is quite normal." (Groof, Lauwers, 2003). Therefore, the goal of inclusive education cannot be only a new type of education, but a fundamental change in the mindset and attitudes of society to the individuals and groups of those who are differ from others. It means, that good inclusion must be meaningful that requires sufficient support and resources; it is much more than just "re-furniture" or "a minor repair", it is always a matter of the whole society - literally the whole culture (i.e. contemporary social and cultural structures).
The following 10 principles can be seen as a Code of Inclusive Education:
1. All students and school staff members are equally important2. The level of students' involvement in school culture, educational process and community is increasing (the level of exclusion is reduced)
3. Changing school culture, policy and practice to take into account the diversity of students
4. Removing any barriers to learning and involving all students (not just those with SEN)
5. Use of good practice experience
6. Perception of differences between students as inspiration, not as a problem
7. Each pupil have the right to be educated in the place where he/she lives
8. The school increases its quality according to the needs of students and teachers
9. The school has an important role to play in building local communities and developing its positive values
10. Inclusive education has an impact on the wider environment and inclusive education is becoming one of the aspects of inclusion in society
Watch the video and notice how the inclusive schools can contribute to positive changes in society: |
2. The values of inclusive education concept
The values on which the concept of inclusive education is based may be structured into some categories according to various criteria.
The tool called Index for Inclusion (Booth & Ainscow, 2002) is used as a basis for identifying inclusive education criteria, parameters and values. It describes the following three dimensions containing the above subcategories and then the individual indicators:
A - Inclusive culture
- A1 Building community
- A2 Establishing inclusive values
B - Inclusive policy
- B1 Developing the school for all
- B2 Organising support for diversity
C - Inclusive practice
- C1 Organizing learning
- C2 Mibilizing resources
Inclusive values
As we saw, the category A2 in the Index for Inclusion is directly linked to the issue of inclusive values. Specific values in inclusive education could be expressed as follows:
- High expectations for all students
- Sharing a philosophy of inclusion by all terachers, students, parents, etc.
- Students are equally valued
- High standard of the mutual approach of pupils and teachers
- Removing barriers to learning and participation in all aspects of the school life
- Minimising the discrimination in school practice
Inclusive values then strongly determine the following areas:
2. Conditions (material, organizational, personnel)
3. Practice (didactics, individualization, evaluation)
4. Relations (relationships, communication, cooperation)
Watch the video and write all important words (terms) that belong to the description of inclusion: |