Review Article

Effects of History and Culture on Attitudes toward Special Education: A Comparison of Finland and Norway

Table 4

Different perspectives on education in Finland and Norway.

PerspectiveFinlandNorway

Educational policyBasic Education for all since 1970.The same school legislation for all since 1976.
Continuous growth of special education since 1995*.Continuous growth of special education since 2005.
Education appreciated.Education not so important.
Focus on inclusionThe right to learn.The right to participate.
Inclusion from an opposite perspectiveThe Finnish school system is not inclusive. It segregates students and limits the opportunity to participate.The Norwegian school system is not inclusive. It fails to make the pupils learn.
Teachers’ positionHigh education, high status, independent, powerful.Average education, low status, restricted power.
StrategySpecial education; flexible part-time special education; early intervention.Adapted education; bureaucratic special education; late intervention.

S imilar statistic system since then.