The Zentrum für Förderpädagogik (ZFP), a center for special education

The Zentrum für Förderpädagogik (ZFP), a center for special education, is a school institution that stands on three pillars. The first pillar is formed of the special education school in St. Vith, Bütgenbach and Eupen in the German-speaking Community of Belgium. The two first named schools are elementary school, the one in Eupen has a primary and secondary department. More than 250 pupils with an impairment and/or special educational needs are served in this first pillar. The second mainstay is the so named integration, which enables pupils with special educational needs to attend mainstream schools whil receiving individual support. This also ties in with the basic principles of the UN-Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, which aims to integrate or include such pupils or students.The third pillar of the ZFP is the Competence Center (Kompetenzzentrum), which offers educational advice and know-how to school principals and teachers to support and strengthen theim in their work. The goal is to provide pupils with a holistic approach and to support them according to their specific needs. The mission statement of the ZFP is to give each child his or her place and to give him oder her the best that the school can offer.