Abstract:

In recent years there has been a general increase in the numbers of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in regular schools world-wide. However, the development of Inclusive education in the Czech Republic is largely unknown outside the country. This paper, therefore, reviews some of the current policies and practices, and literature published in English pertaining to inclusive education in the Czech Republic with a specific emphasis on the role of the school principal. The purpose of the review is to provide an empirical basis for an investigation into the attitudes of school principals and the inclusion of students with SEN in regular schools. In light of international and local literature, a number of challenges for this Central European country emerge, which are discussed. These challenges include the need for a change to current policy, discussion around the meaning of inclusive education and the urgent need for further investigation. The study’s emphasis on school principals’, their role and attitudes towards inclusion in the Czech Republic is one of the first of its kind in the country.

Keywords:

School principals, attitudes, inclusive education, Czech Republic.