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EASNIE NEWSLETTER

This newsletter presents inclusive education updates from the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education (EASNIE) and across Europe. It covers recent peer-learning events, updates on Technical Support Instrument work, events under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring report and more. Click the links to read more about the topics below.

NEW EASNIE DIRECTOR

On 1 January 2025, EASNIE welcomed Dr João Costa as its new Director. Dr Costa brings a wealth of experience, vision and energy to the role, succeeding Dr Cor J.W. Meijer, who stepped down after almost 20 years of dedicated leadership and service.

WORKING WITH AND FOR COUNTRIES

Recent peer-learning events with EASNIE member countries explored monitoring and evaluating inclusive education systems, family engagement in inclusive education and fostering collaboration between schools, families and communities. The events were part of the Thematic Country Cluster Activities.

Stakeholder consultations and a study visit have taken place as part of EASNIE’s work as a technical provider for the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project on ‘Fostering Inclusive Quality Education in Finland and Ireland’.

Four members of the EASNIE team at the stakeholder consultations in Finland

EASNIE has completed the pilot phase of the Country Policy Development Support (CPDS) activity, which helps member countries to reflect on their own policy for inclusive education. CPDS outputs include a methodology report and country repositories of information on inclusive education policy and practice.

EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS

POLISH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

INFORMAL MEETING OF EDUCATION MINISTERS

João Costa speaking at the event. Behind him it says 'Poland 25' on the wall

As part of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025, the Polish Ministry of Education hosted an informal meeting of education ministers in January. EASNIE Director João Costa was invited to speak at a plenary session on the preventative aspects of inclusive education and the challenges in implementing them.

FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE ON INCLUSION

The audience at the conference wave their hands, showing their appreciation in sign language

In March, the Presidency held a flagship conference, entitled Let’s make inclusion happen!. Dr Costa delivered a keynote speech on bridging the policy–practice gap, and EASNIE Activity Managers Anthoula Kefallinou and Annet de Vroey took part in parallel sessions on collaboration and early childhood education.

UNION OF SKILLS

The European Commission has presented a Communication on a Union of Skills, focusing on adult and lifelong learning, vocational education and training, and skills retention. The Communication highlights the need to ensure an inclusive lifelong learning approach to strengthen basic skills and equip all learners for the future. The Communication is accompanied by an Action Plan on Basic Skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan.

GLOBAL EDUCATION MONITORING REPORT

‘LEAD FOR INCLUSION’ – REGIONAL REPORT

UNESCO has launched its 2025 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) regional report for Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, entitled ‘Lead for inclusion’.

At the report’s launch event on 26 February, GEM Report Director Manos Antoninis and Lana Jurko, Executive Director of the Network of Education Policy Centers, provided an overview of the report’s findings. They highlighted how school leaders are essential to ensuring inclusive schools, encouraging and promoting inclusion across the school community.

EASNIE Director João Costa described the importance of school leadership for inclusive education systems, and explained how many of the GEM report’s key messages reflect the findings in EASNIE’s activities, such as Supporting Inclusive School Leadership.

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