European Union Spanish Presidency Conference

Inclusive Education: A way to promote Social Cohesion - This important conference, attended by over 250 delegates from Spain and across Europe, was held in Madrid on 11th and 12th March 2010. The focus was on secondary, vocational and higher education as well as inclusive education in general. The inclusion of Roma people was highlighted as well as people with disabilities. The outcome will be presented by Angel Gabilondo Pujol, Minister for Education to the EU Council of Education Ministers in May, which he will chair. He gave an assurance to the Conference in his closing speech to prioritise winning what was in the statement. Earlier we had heard how the European Commission strategy for 2020, which will replace the Lisbon Strategy in the wake of the financial crisis, is much more rooted in sustainability, education and the eradication of poverty. The development of inclusive education across Europe fits in with this. However, there is still wide variance in inclusive education across Europe. Segregation varies from 5.1% Flemish Belgium or 4.8% in Germany to 0.01% in Italy or 0.3% in Norway

Richard was asked to moderate a round table on an International Overview to Inclusive Education.
Speakers were Adam Porkorny - European Commission
Ana Paelez - Vice Chair UN Disability Committee
Clementina Acedo - Director International Education Bureau UNESCO
Luz Sanz - Vice President CERMI

The conclusions of the round table as summarised by Richard are available here.
Richard's presentation is available for download.