Launch of a new project: Mapping the Implementation of Policy for Inclusive Education

All countries need to track the implementation of new educational policies and legislation for inclusion. The justifications and pressures for mapping such developments are very clear at:

• International level (as can be seen in the UN 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for data collection and monitoring at State level);
• European level (as outlined in the Lisbon objectives 2010 and also European Council priorities and targets outlined in EC2020);
• National levels (as evidenced by European Agency work involving ministerial representatives from 27 European countries. Please see: www.european-agency.org).

Policy makers working in inclusive education suggest they need to know what qualitative and quantitative information to collect and the best methods of doing this in order to map the implementation of policies for inclusive education. They need to have agreed signposts to track progress towards educational inclusion, which is a clear priority for all EU member states. 

The goal for a new European level project will be to provide them with clear proposals on Mapping the Implementation of Policy for Inclusive Education.

The main project activities focus upon two conferences – Belgium during 2010 and Hungary during 2011 – both of which will be political level events held during the respective countries’ hosting of the Presidency of the EU. 

The Brussels conference took place on the 2nd December 2010 at the Martin's Central Park Hotel, Boulevard Charlemagne 80, 1000 Brussels. Representatives of the Ministries of Education from both the French and Flemish speaking communities officially opened the event, followed by a panel of speakers representing the Belgian and Hungarian Ministries, European Commission, DG-EAC and Eurostat. 

In addition representatives of Ministries of Education from 27 countries as well as other European institutions presented their priorities and work in this field and contributed to the conference debates. 

More information is available from the Agency Secretariat: secretariat@european-agency.org