Prospects for inclusive education in European countries emerging from economic and other trauma: Serbia and Albania

This paper examines recent historical, social and economic factors in Albania and Serbia, identifying similarities and differences that have a bearing on the provision of education. The focus is on the education of children with difficulties in learning and/or disabilities (the term 'special ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of special needs education 2006-05, Vol.21 (2), p.151-166
Main Authors: Radoman, Vesna, Nano, Virxhil, Closs, Alison
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albania
Balkans
Defectology
Disability
Eastern Europe
Economic Factors
Educational History
Educational organization
Educational Policy
Educational sciences
Foreign Countries
General points
Inclusive education
Inclusive Schools
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Other countries from Eastern Europe
Serbia
Social Change
Special Education
War
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Summary:This paper examines recent historical, social and economic factors in Albania and Serbia, identifying similarities and differences that have a bearing on the provision of education. The focus is on the education of children with difficulties in learning and/or disabilities (the term 'special needs' is used for brevity). The paper provides a summary of the past and present situation of children with special needs in both countries. The role and motivation of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in funding and developing inclusive educational policies and practices in both countries are examined. There are substantial barriers to inclusive education in Albania and Serbia. These are identified and discussed before examining more recent positive developments in both countries. Two individual examples of schools that are making progress are profiled, one from each country. Finally, the prospects for the future in both countries are examined, and the prediction made that in-country efforts and developments will result in further slow and uneven progress towards inclusive education in Albania and Serbia. For any of this to happen, however, it will be important that conditions of economic recovery, social stability, the political drive towards Europe and its inclusive standards, and further help from international NGOs, prevail.
ISSN:0885-6257
1469-591X
DOI:10.1080/08856250600600794