Should SEN children be enrolled in mainstream schools?

Should children with special educational needs (SEN) enroll in mainstream schools? That’s a question many parents with SEN kids grapple with.On the one hand, parents want their child to grow alongside their non-disabled peers and be a part of the mainstream community.On the other, many valid concerns might stop them, such as whether the school can accommodate a SEN child, and whether their child can not only cope but thrive in a mainstream school environment. The general consensus is that every child has the right to be formally educated, whether individually or together with others, including children with SEN, notes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Additionally, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) notes that inclusive and fair societies start with inclusive education systems in which all students are welcomed, regardless of their educational need, among other things. UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on education also emphasises inclusion and equity as the foundation for quality education.