Neoliberal–neoconservative educational reforms and the inclusion in education of disabled students in Greece: The case of the institution of special assistant

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the institution of special assistant as a product of the neoliberal–neoconservative restructuring of Greek education. After briefly presenting the policy framework in which the institution was established, we explore its relationship to the ideology of special education. We argue that policies regarding the institution of special assistant are intricately linked to the Greek special education industry and represent a distinctive instance of exogenous privatization of education in Greece. Finally, we discuss the implications of the policy on special assistant for the role of parents of disabled students and their involvement in education.

Keywords

• Special assistants
• Educational policy
• Neoliberalism–neoconservatism
• Privatization
• Parental involvement