in press). South African teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of learners with different abilities in mainstream classrooms (original) (raw)
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Perspectives in Education, 2021
This study examined teachers' attitudes towards the inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning in their classrooms. The study implemented the quantitative descriptive design. Sixtythree Foundation Phase (grades 1-3) teachers were recruited through the convenient sampling strategy from the Capricorn District in Limpopo Province in South Africa. Data were collected through a closed-ended questionnaire adapted from the Teaching for All (Department of Basic Education, 2019) student support materials for inclusive education commissioned by the British Council. Analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that overall, teachers were well disposed to include learners who experience barriers to learning in their classrooms. However, the teachers expressed concerns regarding some teachers' abilities that are required in inclusive settings for inclusion of these learners to happen. The study has some important implications for teachers, policymakers and researchers. The study may help to solidify teachers' positive attitudes as the creators of knowledge rather than always assuming the role of transmitters of information from the government. Policymakers may be informed about how to involve teachers in their development of policies on inclusive education. Lastly, for researchers these findings may help further research on how to understand problems related to the implementation of inclusive education.
Perspectives in Education, 2021
Inclusive education is the term used to describe an education system in which all learners are accepted and fully included, educationally and socially. The process of inclusion proves to have challenges in developing countries such as South Africa which adopted it a bit later than the developed countries. Research has mentioned that amongst other challenges is the lack of resources and overcrowding. Hence, this paper debates and discusses the challenges in the implementation of inclusive education in South African schools. The study was designed as a multiple case study research in which a qualitative research approach was employed. Three schools in the Buffalo City Metro and three participants per school participated in the study. Qualitative data analysis was grounded on an interpretive philosophy. The findings revealed that overcrowding, insufficient training, lack of knowledge and skills of educators were the overarching themes that resulted in educators feeling a sense of inadequacy to teach in an inclusive education classroom. The study will cover the challenges faced in the implementation of inclusive education. Therefore, the study recommends that inclusive education should cater to all learners irrespective of the type of disability.
International Journal of Disability Development and Education, 2011
This article recounts the findings of a study that investigated pre-service teachers' attitudes and concerns regarding inclusive education and their degree of comfort when interacting with people with disabilities after completing courses on inclusive education. One hundred and eighty pre-service teachers from one higher education institution in South Africa completed the Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education Scale. They were all being prepared to teach at either the primary (41%) or secondary (59%) level of education. Pre-service teachers' mean scores on the sentiments scale increased following the intervention (p < 0.001), as did the mean scores on the attitudes scale (p < 0.001). However, mean scores related to their concerns decreased (p = 0.01). With respect to the latter finding, as a result of the intervention the pre-service teachers became more worried about resources to support inclusive education (p < 0.001), the reality of large classes (p = 0.01) and their workload (p = 0.04). Recommendations based on the research findings are made, suggesting that the quality of courses on inclusive education should be enhanced in higher education institutions.
Promoting the implementation of inclusive education in primary schools in South Africa
British journal of special …, 2006
The British Index for Inclusion was selected to be used in three primary schools in the Western Cape Province in South Africa in order to develop a South African model to assist in the development of inclusive schools. The Index for Inclusion process entails progression through a series of five developmental phases and this paper, written by Petra Engelbrecht, professor in educational psychology and special education and senior research director at Stellenbosch University, Marietjie Oswald, lecturer in special education at Stellenbosch University, and Chris Forlin, associate professor in special education at the Hong Kong Institute of Special Education, is a reflection of the first two phases. Qualitative data were generated from the consultative process followed in the schools during the first phase and both qualitative and quantitative data from questionnaires regarding the perceptions of all school community members on the inclusive practices or lack thereof in their schools during the second phase. The authors drew out the following five themes from the three sets of data: an inclusive school philosophy; democratic leadership, structures, processes and values; collaboration; addressing learner diversity; and resources. Petra Engelbrecht, Marietjie Oswald and Chris Forlin, all of whom were working on a UNESCO-funded project to trial the use of the Index for Inclusion in South Africa, suggest that these themes provided invaluable insights into both the common and unique complexities, the problems and the assets of the different school communities. The themes are discussed in detail in this article, raising fascinating issues for the development of inclusion in different contexts around the world, and will be used to inform the three remaining phases of the Index for Inclusion process.
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2014
This study investigated the implementation of inclusive education in three schools of Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape Province, in accordance with the principles set out in Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education-Building an inclusive education and training system. The qualitative method was used in this study, and data collection strategies were based on interviews and observations. The study established the following challenges that hampered the implementation of inclusive education in the three schools: lack of training or workshops for both principals and educators on inclusive education, which led to a lack of knowledge about the topic and ways to support learners experiencing barriers to learning in their school and lack of access to the White Paper 6 document. These challenges can be remedied by proactive assistance from the
International Journal of Inclusive Education, 2011
Since the move towards inclusion in line with international trends and South Africa’s attempts to address issues of marginalisation and discrimination amongst all learners, including those with special needs and disabilities, it has become evident on perusal of various research studies and reviews that there is an obsession with how far we have come since the introduction of an inclusive education policy in 2001 which formalises a strategy to ensure increased access and support for all learners within the system, including those with special needs and disabilities. There is an inherent assumption that we have not arrived as yet, and research suggests a continuing scepticism and lack of confidence amongst educators in mainstream settings to support children with disabilities in their schools and classrooms. This article focuses on research which shows that learners with disabilities are in fact being successfully included within one of these mainstream schools, by default and with a range of available support, despite not being designated as a ‘full‐service school’. The study is based on interviews with students with physical disabilities in a Black rural secondary school, as well as observations and interviews with staff and non‐disabled students. Findings reveal an existence of teacher, peer and community support, including from a neighbouring special school, suggesting a notion of inclusion which was about naturally putting values into action. Such practice, I argue, remains obscure and off the policy radar in South Africa.
Deaf Educators’ Attitudes towards Inclusive Education in the Gauteng Province, South Africa
2021
This study aimed to explore the nature of the attitudes of Deaf educators towards inclusive education. The respondents were a non-probability sample of seven educators (Speaking educators = 3 and Deaf educator = 4) aged between 40 years and 55 years and with more than five years of teaching Deaf learners. A questionnaire with open-ended questions was designed and piloted before being administered. The data collected was analysed thematically. The results show that the respondents have a negative attitude towards inclusive education, with the main reason given being that mainstream schools are not yet ready for inclusion.
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2014
Africa. This paper is a reflection on whether the policy is achieving its set goals by answering to the question: Are regular class teachers in South African public schools giving adequate attention to children with learning disabilities in their mainstream classes? As the cold face of the system, teachers always bear the brunt for the failure or success of any policy in education. Fore-grounded on a quantitative research paradigm, the paper adopted social learning theory as a lens through which both the theoretical and empirical parts of the study were conducted. The sample of the study consisted of one hundred and ten teachers all affected by the policy. Data analysis from the questionnaires indicated among other things that implementing the policy was not smooth sailing. With inadequate training on inclusivity, teachers were left by themselves and were grappling with a variety of challenges in implementing inclusivity in the mainstream classes. Recommendations are suggested to counteract the possible failure of this policy in South African public schools and elsewhere.