Abstract
Inclusive education is an important approach in modern education systems to ensure that all students have access without discrimination. However, its implementation still faces various challenges, such as limited teacher competency and suboptimal supporting policies, so a comprehensive review is needed. Based on these problems, this study aims to analyze the role of inclusive education in improving access to education for all students in formal schools, as well as identify challenges and opportunities in its implementation based on a review of relevant literature. This study uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach by examining 20 journals, consisting of 3 Indonesian national journals (universities) and 17 journals from international databases, and identifying 7 theories related to the research topic. The results of the literature review are as follows: 1. Inclusive Higher Education for Students with Special Needs: A Review of Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions, 2. Bibliometric Analysis of Inclusive Education in Indonesia: Achievements and Its Relationship with General Education, 3. Students' Perspectives on Inclusive Education in Indonesia: Insights from a Systematic Literature Review, 4. Implementation of Inclusive Education Policy in Elementary Schools, 5. Implementation of Inclusive Education in Elementary Schools: A Study of Challenges and Opportunities, 6. Accessible Information and Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities at Airlangga University, Indonesia, 7. Quality of Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs in Indonesia. Thus, inclusive education expands access and offers multidimensional benefits, but is hampered by gaps between policy and practice, teacher competencies, facilities, technology, and social barriers.