Education and Competences of the Special Educators in Turkey and Other Countries

Abstract

In this research, analysis of higher education systems and qualifications gained in the field of special education and rehabilitation in the Republic of Turkey and European countries are determined. It is aimed to compare the training and qualifications of future special educators and rehabilitators in higher education systems in the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Germany, Finland, Russia, Lithuania and Spain in order to obtain positive application methods regarding the competences of special educators and rehabilitators. Document analysis method was used in the research. All available documentation was analyzed and the data were cross-referenced. The results showed that the education of special educators and rehabilitators varies in different countries and it is contextualized or adapted to the tradition, history, and norms of each society. Generally, dominates the trend of specialization of the classroom teachers from government schools, in order to gain special education competences, but there are still higher education systems (like in Spain and Russia) which have the same approach in the education of special educators and rehabilitators. Almost all countries have developed resource centers serving like service providers of the regular schools where the students with special educational needs are educated. Development of the network of resource centers, increasing of the competences of the regular teachers, increasing the competences of the special educators and rehabilitators for work in the regular inclusive conditions, specializing after the graduate studies were suggested. As the most important suggestion, the graduated special educators and rehabilitators should be educated and trained for independent work in the field of prevention, detection, diagnostics, habilitation and rehabilitation, education, the professional orientation of persons with special educational needs.