Yet the current Grade 10 placement exercise is revealing concerning patterns for learners with disabilities. Parents, teachers, and education stakeholders report that learners with disabilities are being placed almost entirely into special schools, with little or no opportunity to access mainstream institutions. However, when they become the default placement for all learners with disabilities, the system risks isolating children, reinforcing stigma, and implying that children with disabilities are less capable. In Finland, learners with disabilities are supported within mainstream schools through targeted interventions and additional teaching support. Your Excellency, the solution is not to abolish special schools but to restore balance, choice, and individual assessment.

Source: Standard Digital January 18, 2026 05:00 UTC