Quality Education for All

In his keynote speech, Dr. Hywel Ceri Jones points out that European policy makers are increasingly focusing on “exclusion” and “inclusion” while the latter becoming the positive formulation of the first and thus a gateway to combat against social exclusion. In this perspective Education becomes “the vital motor force to derive the concept of inclusion”. According to Jones, Inclusive Education solely, is a mere concept which is bound to be turned into effective policy in order to be successful. In scope of Inclusive Education 4 priority themes: Investment in early childhood, the quality and standards of vocational education, the need to provide all school- leavers with basic skills and qualifications, and the role of the school systems in citizenship building, should be the “essential building blocks” for a successful educational policy against social exclusion. Jones concluded his speech by underlining the importance of cooperation between national and local institutions for a successful implementation of a nationwide Inclusive Education policy. (The speech was published as an op-ed in a national newspaper.)