Professional paper

Experiences and challenges in educating students with disabilities: twenty-five years of a special education class at “Fran Franković” primary school in Rijeka

Barbara Fistonić *
Petra Štimac

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of twenty-five years of educational work in special classes at Fran Franković Primary School in Rijeka, with a focus on students with disabilities and the outcomes of their education. The paper is based on the analysis of longterm practice in social pedagogy and student documentation. It presents the types of student difficulties, the specific characteristics of students with behavioral problems, the challenges of integrating students into regular classes, and their further education and employment. The long-standing practice of social pedagogues in special classes indicates the need for a greater number of special classes in primary and secondary schools, which
would enable better categorization of students according to the type of difficulty. The importance of intersectoral cooperation is emphasized, as well as the need to strengthen expert teams in secondary schools and to provide additional guidance and support during the process of employment

Keywords

special class (SC); students with behavioral problems; students with disabilities; education of students with disabilities

Hrčak ID:

343548

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/343548

Publication date:

21.1.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 320 *