Inclusive Education as a Wicked Problem: Introducing Systemic and Service Design Approach to Tackle the Challenge

Inclusiveness is a principle of our current school system. Inclusive education should ensure equal learning opportunities for all, avoid stigmatising differences, and accept diversity in pupils. The goals are promising, but the implementation of inclusive education is a wicked problem intertwined with student, teacher, school community and wider societal factors that are difficult to manage and reconcile. Can the goals of inclusive education to be achieved or will inclusiveness of schools lead to a situation where the conditions for learning, school practices and teaching resources are further stretched and learning for all becomes more narrowly focused? This article examines inclusive education as a wicked problem and how this perspective can aid in managing the inclusive education challenge at hand and how systemic design approach and service design can tackle these challenges. There will be provided four practical challenges where the proposed approaches and tools can be especially useful.