Greek Secondary Education Teachers’ Views on Inclusive Education of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aimed to investigate Greek secondary education teachers' views on people with intellectual disabilities, their inclusion in the typical educational system, and the dimensions of social and educational exclusion that may be associated with it. Method: The qualitative research design involved semi-structured interviews with 18 Greek secondary school teachers. Results: It was revealed that people with intellectual disabilities face educational exclusion for two reasons. The first is because the structure of the education system itself cannot meet their increased needs, and the second is due to the fact that a percentage of secondary education teachers feel negative about their inclusion in the typical education system. Conclusion and Implications: The implemented policy for the co-education of people with intellectual disabilities in Greece is not effective due to endogenous difficulties. It is necessary to orient the educational policy towards an education for all without "filters" of social exclusions.