Xuanfeng Duan

Xuanfeng Duan

May 30, 2025

Secondary vocational education, People with disabilities, Special education.

Currently, secondary vocational education for people with disabilities in China primarily exists in three forms: inclusion in regular secondary vocational schools; special education departments (classes) within regular secondary vocational schools; and vocational education departments (classes) in special education schools. Special education schools, as the backbone of the special education service system promoting high-quality development, are essential venues for accommodating students with disabilities to receive secondary vocational education. This study, aligning with the new requirements of the "Standards for the Establishment of Secondary Vocational Schools for People with Disabilities," utilizes questionnaires and interviews to understand the current state of secondary vocational education in special education schools in Western China. The findings reveal that the foundations for vocational education in special education schools are weak; the scale of schooling is small, with severe professional homogenization and uneven regional development; and there are few types of disabilities among the enrolled students. It is recommended to improve institutional mechanisms and strengthen overall coordination, to continuously focus on developing high school special education with an emphasis on vocational education. to promote the integration of vocational and special education. and to support and encourage local universities to develop higher vocational education for people with disabilities.

© 2025, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

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