The special education profession in four Nordic countries in light of evolving policies on inclusion and special needs education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of special education professionals in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in light of educational policies and reforms. The study places emphasis on (a) the policy context of inclusion and special needs education, (b) the formal qualifications required of special education professionals, and (c) the position of these professionals in compulsory education. Our approach involved a comparative analysis of how legislation and policies interact with the field of special education as a ‘professional jurisdiction’ in each of the four countries. We find that the major thrust of reforms has been aimed at reducing the number of students who receive special needs education and their placement in segregated settings. The introduction of early intervention, multi-tiered systems of support, and collaborative approaches are seen as means of reaching this goal. In addition, findings reveal that the special education profession is weaker in Denmark and Norway compared to Sweden and Finland. We argue that a lack of a consensus regarding the role and qualifications of special education professionals creates problems for schools and limits the availability of diverse forms of expertise which are necessary for inclusion.