The Dutch School System’s Failure to Achieve Inclusion and Comply with the UN-CRPD

The Dutch school system claims to promote inclusion through the Appropriate Education Act (2014), which obliges schools to find the best educational environment for each student. Despite these intentions, the reliance on special schools remains omnipresent, with over 73,000 students enrolled in 2023, which is an increase compared to 2014. This contradicts the idea of inclusivity envisioned by the Act and the UN-CRPD and maintains a dual-track system, where students with disabilities are separated into specialized schools. This essay discusses the current situation in the Dutch school system and how it is failing to achieve inclusion advocated by the UN-CRPD.