Since long time, Inclusion, in one form or the other has been realized as a human concern across globe, but it has gained much significance in recent years. Its evolution has taken various forms in the past to reach the present status. Inclusion-participation of all persons in society in general and particularly in education is essential for development of peoplesÂ’ potential, welfare and progress to have a cohesive, justiciable, flourishing and progressive society. Disability has been considered as the single most serious barrier to inclusive education across the globe. And hence needs to be explored. This review comprehensibly examines how the evolution of inclusion, special education and inclusive education have emerged along with their current status.
Method: Extensive literature published in the recent past indexed in PubMed, Lancet, Google Scholar, Research Gate and other prominent research platforms were explored to develop a synthesis of literature available on the internet regarding how the inclusion has been evolved in the globe, current status of special education and challenges and improvement of inclusion.
Results: Various perspectives viewed by pioneers in the past on social events or otherwise have led to evolve the comprehensive concept of inclusion. Various concepts like exclusion, segregation, integration, disability, diversity, special education and lastly inclusive education has been strongly focused worldwide. Better alternative to special education has been in the form of inclusive education. Education being multi-dimensional, have been found to be lacking in most parts of its services and is a challenging. A number of studies highlighted many limitations of current inclusive education including issues of system, syllabus, curriculum, material resources, teacher counts, attitude and training, sociocultural milieu etc. and hence needs much improvement.
Conclusion: Inclusion, a complex concept with its long history of evolution & many perspectives, is based on human needs, that provide justice and right to flourish to everyone including disables. With many limitations and challenges, currently, inclusive education is broadly deficient. Therefore, drastic changes are needed to deeply look at these and take concrete steps to modify the scenario at multiple levels including curriculum, attitude, infrastructure, society and research.
Key words: Inclusion, Diversity, Disability, Exclusion, Integration, SEN, CWSN
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