ABSTRACT
In the European climate of educational change there is a concern that special school education should remain within the domain of the State curriculum for all students. This desire is not only based on the sound principles of equality of educational opportunity, but also on the need to ensure that the raising of education standards of student attainment is a concern and a human right for all areas of schooling. Many of the Asia-Pacific regions are just commencing this process and are working towards making the State curriculum available for students in special
schools as this has not hitherto been the case. This chapter explores the paradigm shift involved, and then identifies a pragmatic approach to achieve this goal – an approach that has led to significant improvements in professional practice in special school education in England. The chapter draws on the English example to discuss a way forward for the Asia-Pacific region.
