Name change: Special school becomes adapted school – welcomed by students

9/14/2023, 5:33:18 PM

Highlights: The name of the school has been changed from special education to adapted education. The new name was approved on 2 July this year. The school is located in the town of Valdemar, in the north of the country. It is the third school in the area to be named after a special education school. The first school to be called special education was founded in 1881. The second school was opened in 1883, and the third in 1894. The last school was built in 1891.

It used to be called a special school, but now it has been replaced. At Valdemarsro Gymnasium, the new name – adapted school – is welcomed with open arms. "Adapted is better because it means you get the support you need," says Mahira Mehmedović, who is in her third year at Valdemarsro Gymnasium.

On 21 June 2022, the Riksdag approved the proposal for a name change in the Education Act. Only on 2 July this year did the name change take effect.

What used to be called special comprehensive school, special upper secondary school and municipal adult education as special education has been renamed adapted compulsory school, adapted upper secondary school and municipal adult education as adapted education.

"It's better because everyone has difficulties and does their best at school," says Cornelia Nyman, a student in her final year at the school.

The concept of intellectual disability is also replaced

In addition to the changes mentioned earlier, the term intellectual disability has been replaced with intellectual disability.

"It's much better because then you understand that we are like everyone else," says Mahira Mehmedović.

In the clip above, the students at Valdemarsro Gymnasium tell us more about their thoughts on the name change.