From Special to Inclusive Education in India

Chapter 1

Introduction: From Special to Inclusive Education

This book is about a major issue in the school system in India—how to define and educate children regarded as having ‘special educational needs’ or disabilities and how to include them in mainstream schools. The focus is on the special education in private schools. There are many unexplained and unresearched factors. First, what is ‘special’ about the special education in the Indian context? Second, how is this linked to the expansion of private education in India? Third, why is there an interest by private schools in the ‘inclusion’ of children with special educational needs? It is clear that there is a distinct difference in the approach to special and inclusive education as between ...