Does a child with disabilities have the right to receive free and compulsory primary education within the mainstream educational system?
Although the right to such education exists in nearly two thirds of the countries surveyed, whether the children are able to exercise that right is a totally different matter. Indeed, in many of these countries, the difference between theory and practice remains distinct.
Amongst the difficulties cited in achieving inclusion are attitude (Australia), a dearth of “specialists to teach children with severe difficulties” (Estonia), accessibility (Sweden), and, a perennial problem, funding (Italy et al).
As the respondent from Spain so succinctly states: “[H]ere are a lot of measures that must be taken in order to get the inclusive education as a reality (accessibility, resources, coordination among the entities involved…)”.
However, true education is not just about book work, and the respondent from Macedonia makes an extremely important related point with the statement, that although the right exists in the country: ”There are no special programmes for including the handicap children in the process of socialisation”.
Every child with a disability has the right to receive free and compulsory primary education within the mainstream educational system.
Only children with certain disabilities have such a right, others must attend special schools.
A child with disabilities has no right to receive free and compulsory primary education within the mainstream ed- ucational system.
 Albania (ALB) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Argentina (ARG) |
No free and compulsory primary education for children with disabilities |
 Australia (AUS) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Austria (AUT) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Belgium – Federal State Walloon (BEL) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Bulgaria (BUL) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Canada (CAN) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Croatia (CRO) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Czech Republic (CZE) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Denmark (DNK) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Estonia (EST) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Finland (FIN) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 France (FRA) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Germany (DEU) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Hungary (HUN) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Ireland (IRL) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Israel (ISR) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Italy (ITA) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Kosovo (RKS) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Macedonia (MKD) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Mexico (MEX) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Montenegro (MNE) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Netherlands (NED) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Portugal (POR) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Romania (ROU) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Serbia (SRB) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Slovakia (SVK) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Slovenia (SLO) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 South Africa (RSA) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 Spain (ESP) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Sweden (SWE) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Switzerland (SUI) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 Turkey (TUR) |
Such right only for children with certain disabilities |
 United Kingdom (UK) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
 United States – California (US CA) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
| United States – New York (US NY state) |
Free and compulsory primary education for every child |
