EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe

[Translation: EPALE France]

Inclusion is a key element in the policies of Europe and its Member States. It is also promoted by other international institutions. Inclusion concerns all sectors of education and training. It involves people of all ages. “Inclusion” is a series of positions, public policies, but also educational practices. Inclusion is particularly prominent in the discourse of educators, trainers and politicians, and this is undoubtedly because, more than ever before, our societies are experiencing a multitude of sources of exclusion. Social exclusion and categories of people discriminated against (migrants, foreigners, people with disabilities, people who are different) are issues that need to be addressed in order to define as precisely as possible what we mean by inclusion and exclusion. And to be able to take effective action against the processes of exclusion. Beyond these considerations, school and early childhood emerge as the first occasions for learning many elements of personal and collective identity building.

The “INSCOOL2” project has brought together partners from Holland, Italy, Spain, Poland, the UK and the European Lifelong Learning Platform (based in Brussels), since 2021 with a project end date of July 2023. The aim is to train teachers and heads of schools on a voluntary basis in order to improve the skills of professionals in inclusive education and to gradually increase the number of school leaders who can pass on the tools of inclusive pedagogy. 130 teachers and 150 heads of schools are involved.

The project logo resembles a fingerprint. The partners explain this choice:

“When you look at a fingerprint, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a map? A visual representation of individuality? Uniqueness? Perhaps the vision of an ideal school where every student is included in learning and their talents and passions are noticed? A school where students, teachers and leaders are confident in helping their students in their schooling? The Inclusive Schools project aims to build on this idea and create digital and face-to-face training that will help you create an inclusive educational environment and see that no one in your classroom is left out. There are different ways to educate your students and help them grow!”

The project has already set up a very well organised website. It is available in the different languages of the partnership. Language access is essential to breaking down the barriers that cause exclusion. The identification of barriers to inclusion is very comprehensive: overcrowded classrooms, lack of support teams, a rigid education system or one-size-fits-all curriculum, gaps in training and lack of confidence of teachers in working with students with different special needs. Prejudice against diversity in school communities, for example against refugee and immigrant children, children with disabilities, bullying, gender stereotyping or poverty, is still very strong and even reinforced by general social tensions.

The partners also noted pressures on examination results and programme delivery, and gaps in training. Finally, and this is a key factor, teachers, educators and trainers must be able to talk, to express their concerns and their questions. It is also important to extend learning communities to other key players.  

The project proposes inclusive teaching methods, a MOOC providing training in inclusive pedagogies. It should be visited and used without moderation! This is a simple and tangible way to implement inclusive education in the real world. And although the project is primarily aimed at teachers and heads of schools, the methodologies used have crossovers with the other sectors of education and training (youth, adult education, school education, etc.)

A final online conference took place on 17 May 2023. More information : https://www.inclusiveschools2.net/fr/home.html.

David LOPEZ, Expert for EPALE France.