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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Educational Support and Guidance
Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein

12.Educational Support and Guidance

Last update: 1 March 2024

Legal framework

The rights of people with a mental and/or physical disability and of children and young people with special educational needs are regulated to some extent in the Constitution and in particular in the Law on the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz; BGlG). The purpose of the law is to eliminate or prevent discrimination, to ensure equal participation in society and to enable people to lead a self-determined life. Any form of discrimination based on physical, mental or psychological disadvantage is prohibited by law.
In 2020, Liechtenstein signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) of December 13, 2006.  On 10 November 2023, the state parliament approved the ratification of the CRPD.

Early childhood education, care 

According to the Law on the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (Art. 18), children with disabilities must receive early support that is adapted to their special needs. Early curative education supports infants and preschool children from birth to the age of 7. Parents are advised, supported and involved in the curative education that is provided after a thorough assessment. It includes children with impairments, developmental delays, developmental restrictions or developmental risks. Curative education takes place at home in the familiar environment, in the therapy room, in the daycare center, in kindergarten or a combination of both. Inclusion is at the heart of all efforts.

Special education needs provision in the school sector

According to the Law on the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (Art. 18), the Principality of Liechtenstein must ensure that children and young people with disabilities receive a basic education that is adapted to their special needs. The country must promote the integration of children and young people with disabilities into mainstream schools by providing appropriate forms of education, training and support for teachers. The provisions of the School Law and Law on Teachers' Service Conditions.
A range of different support measures exist in Liechtenstein's public kindergarten and compulsory school sector to support a welcoming culture and an inclusive pedagogical approach. These are regulated in the Ordinance on School Support Measures. The provisions of the School Law and the Ordinance on the Orgainsation of Public Schools are authoritative in this regard. 
The aim of school support measures is to provide children and young people with and without special educational needs with the best possible support and encouragement in developing their individual potential. The entire range of support on offer covers a wide range of different measures and services:
special educational measures (besondere schulische Massnahmen, BSM),
pedagogical-therapeutic measures (pädagogisch-therapeutische Massnahmen, PTM),
socio-educational measures (sozialpädagogische Massnahmen, SPM),
school psychological service (Schulpsychologischer Dienst, SPD) and
support for gifted children (Begabtenförderung, BF).

The support concept (Förderkonzept der öffentlichen Kindergärten und Pflichtschulen) for public kindergartens and compulsory schools is based on the Ordinance on School Support Measures and is supported by the Liechtenstein Education Strategy2025plus and the basic values of the Liechtenstein curriculum LiLe.
The guideline (Stufenmodell zum Umgang mit herausforderndem Verhalten) offers teachers assistance with procedures and processes.

Support in vocational education and training

According to the Law on the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (Art. 18), the state must ensure that children and young people with special educational needs receive vocational training that is adapted to their special needs, abilities and interests. The state can contribute to the additional costs associated with disabilities, provided these are not covered by insurance and other benefits.