White Paper 6, Special Education Needs: Building an Inclusive Education System (WP6) is a national policy document introduced in 2001 to establish a system where learners with disabilities are able to learn alongside their peers with appropriate support.
This policy describes the way we meet the needs of children who experience barriers to their learning, which may relate to sensory or physical impairment, learning difficulties or emotional or social development, or may relate to factors in their environment, including the learning environment they experience in school.
South Africa has adopted an inclusive education policy in order to address
barriers to learning in the education system. In this module leaders and teachers will review school practices for equity and inclusion.
An inclusive school culture welcomes and values diversity and practices habits of inclusion and belonging. School leaders and teachers need to be values-driven and genuinely committed to every child being welcome and fully included in their school, regardless of their background and ability.
Leaders will be able to identify practices for change and innovation that lead to inclusive education that require trustworthy leaders capable of listening, communicating a vision, and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Leaders and teachers will be able to ensure high expectations and appropriate supports so that each student across race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation, family background, and/or family income, can excel in school.
Leaders and teachers will be able to reflect on, assess and improve their practices to support equity and inclusion in their schools.
