Overview

• 62 percent of teachers back inclusive classrooms in principle, yet only 28 percent find current practice workable under existing conditions.
• Shortages of specialist staff, inadequate training and large class sizes leave half of schools without multiprofessional teams to support students with disabilities.
• More than 40 percent of schools lack full barrier-free access, excluding students, teachers and parents from learning environments.
• Regional disparities persist with Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia reporting the strongest inclusion support structures, while Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate trail behind.
• About three-quarters of educators favour maintaining special needs schools alongside inclusion and those with hands-on inclusive teaching experience are more likely to view it positively despite systemic challenges.