School heads are calling on the government to delay the implementation of reforms to the special education system which involves sending more special needs pupils to ordinary schools.

The reforms are due to be introduced in stages from August 2012, but school heads argue in the Volkskrant that they are not yet in a position to absorb more children with problems.
The government wants to save €300m a year on special education by shifting children with less serious mental and physical problems into normal schools. But schools need time to make sure teachers have the skills needed to deal with these pupils, the heads say.
In addition, time will be needed to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of teachers who feel they are being asked to do much, the paper says.