The Education Ministry has commissioned the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education to carry out a thorough review of its policies on inclusion. The study will take a year and will be partly funded by the EU.
The announcement was made by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo in a news conference. The study will also include private, Church and independent schools.
Mr Bartolo said that the government wanted this evaluation to be as rigorous as possible and had decided to opt for an external body which is totally independent.
The last study was carried out by the Spiteri Commission in 2004.
Fieldwork will be carried out from May to September through questionnaires, with the agency presenting its recommendations towards the end of the year.