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(Estonia) A third of students have SPED needs; "number . . . is rising"

  • 8 hours ago
  • 2 min read
The number of children with special educational needs has grown, and they now make up a third of all students. Schools should provide support for these children, and universities and employers are increasingly able to accommodate their needs.

Students' needs vary widely, but the number of children with special educational needs is rising, said Jürgen Rakaselg, head of the inclusive education department at the Ministry of Education and Research.


"When we look at the full spectrum of special educational needs, it ranges from temporary learning difficulties to deafblindness. The proportion of more complex needs has remained fairly stable over the years, but a significant change has occurred in the so‑called lighter category — there are indeed many more of these students now," Rakaselg said.


Tamsalu School special‑education teacher Mirell Viru said such needs are now recognized more effectively.


"Every local government has by now created its own early‑intervention model, including ours. There are many people involved in noticing. A parent, a teacher or another school employee can be the one who sees something. Sometimes a student has a temporary drop in motivation or another short‑term factor that greatly affects learning, and the child needs support," Viru explained.


According to the ministry, 30 percent of students need some form of support, but that does not mean they all require a simplified curriculum, Rakaselg said.


"In cases of ADHD, autism spectrum traits and similar conditions, a simplified curriculum may be necessary — but not always, and usually it isn't. About 1.6 percent of students study under a simplified curriculum, and that number has remained stable," he said.


Children with milder needs do require support, but they usually study in mainstream classes and are not legally classified as having special educational needs. . . .






 
 
 

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