Special education trends in Türkiye a secondary analysis of statistics [2013–2023]

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ensures that individuals with special needs have the right to inclusive education, which is protected by international law. As a result of Article 24 of the Convention, new laws and regulations have been implemented in Türkiye and globally to improve educational outcomes for individuals with special needs, with continuous efforts to enhance inclusivity. The aim of this study is to examine the changes in special education statistics in Türkiye over the last decade from the perspective of international and national legal regulations. Formal education statistics published by the Ministry of National Education were analysed according to the variables included in the research questions. The findings of the study show that as the number of students with special needs in Türkiye has increased in the last decade, there has been a parallel increase in placement in inclusive education settings. Additionally, the number of special education teachers has also increased to address this growing demand. These findings emphasise the necessity for ongoing evaluation of policies and practices to ensure that special education principles are aligned with both national and international commitments.