Inclusion In Relation To Education

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Inclusion

Name:

Institution:

Research Protocol

Inclusion

This term is used to describe the actions done so as to place the people with disabilities together with those who are able bodied in relation to education, employment and leisure activities. The pother names for inclusion are mainstreaming and integration. The history of inclusion dates back to the 1800s when Johann Wilhelm Klein asserted that the blind children in schools should be taught together with the sighted ones. This was implemented in Scotland and later in Germany by 1878. By1920, there were several classes that had been established for the blind children. Consequently, inclusion as a sociological topic is an educational philosophy which was practiced from a long time ago (Winzer & Mazurek, 2000).

Inclusion in relation to education was able to become successful over the years due to the parents efforts in ensuring that children got equal opportunities in the schools they went. Focus was especially given to learners with visual impairments. This also made the other challenges that special need children have to be identified and get considered for mainstreaming. Inclusive placements had to be prepared adequately by ensuring that administrator and school teachers have the correct values and attitudes towards children with any form of handicap. They had to become more receptive and skilled in such areas. The learners should be also prepared with skills that would allow them interact with the other regular children. Societal needs should also be addressed (Cerney, 2007).

The Research problem in this study concerns the situation of inclusion practices in primary schools. There is evidence that mainstreaming process is not given the attention and resources that are essential in its effective functioning. Most children continue suffering from discrimination, unequal opportunities and lack of support materials and equipment as well as support systems such as access to professional like physiotherapists, psychiatrists and counselors. They suffer silently hence the need to research on this sensitive sociological issue.

Research question: is mainstreaming being effectively executed in schools? This research question will allow the researcher to investigate whether schools are essentially doing effectual mainstreaming of learners.

The rationale for undertaking this research is to determine whether mainstreaming is being practiced effectively in schools. The researcher seek know whether learners who have special needs are actually being segregated in schools such that they are not allowed to participate in activities just as the other regular learners. Most schools that have learners with disabilities do not have effectual placement systems that would ensure they learn .They are also deprived of a social life hence affecting their holistic growth. This research is aimed at examining the real situation and providing appropriate measure for improvement.

The hypothesis for this research is that inclusion is not effectively practiced in schools.

The hypothesis will be tested through the conduction of a survey by using a survey questionnaire.

The variables that will be used for the study will be inclusion as the independent variable and its practice as the dependent variable.

Survey

Survey questionnaire for the teachers

How long have you worked in this institution?

Describe the strategies used to ensure inclusion is achieved in this institution.

Do you receive any external support? If so explain.

How do you handle the needs of each learner with special needs?

Are there adequate materials for effective instruction?

Survey questionnaire for the learners

How old are you?

For how long have you been studying in this institution?

How can you rate the type of instruction provided in this institution?

Is mainstreaming properly implemented in this institution?

Do you have adequate materials for both regular and children with special needs

Is there discrimination of any kind in this institution?

This survey questionnaire was designed in a way that it has open ended questions in which the respondents were free to give their opinion with regard to the issue in question. In addition, this survey questions was intended to enable the researcher to get the real situation concerning inclusion practices in schools. This survey was conducted in two schools which practice mainstreaming. The subjects in this study were learners and teachers from ordinary schools who are normal, and those who have special needs.

Survey results

Item

Very good

Good

Poor

The focus given to the inclusion process

√

External support

√

Availability of skilled personnel

√

Availability of materials and equipments

√

Teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion

√

Student’s feelings toward mainstreaming

√

Analysis of the findings

The findings from the research study indicate that school administration and teachers are not committed in ensuring that mainstreaming is done properly. Inclusion is promoted by people becoming committed to the practice and having full understanding of the benefit it brings about. The family unit and the society at large should be aware of how inclusion should be practiced so that they can give their support whenever necessary.

There are still issues to deal with discrimination and segregation. The administration is also not strong in promoting integration practices through adequate sensitization of both teachers and students. The school management team ought to be strong so that they can ensure teacher get the necessary training on special needs and that the other learners are able to accept and share with the learners who are impaired (Bodzin, Klein & Weaver, 2010).

Accommodation and support systems that are appropriate should be established. This is an exceptionally vital factor that ensures that learners with disabilities are able to learn in a conducive and safe environment. Proper adjustments have to be made to the buildings found in the school as well as the equipments for use. They should also have adequate material such as walking stick and brails (Winzer & Mazurek, 2000).

From the research findings it is evident that mainstreaming requires collaborative efforts of various stakeholders who will facilitate the processes towards effective inclusion. Teachers should first accept all children and treat them equally. In addition, they are expected to use Differentiated instruction which is based on each learner’s special need (Cerney, 2007).

To summarize these findings, all children ought to be taught and given equal opportunities for development since the research findings point out that children with special needs are not given maximum opportunities and access to materials and equipment that would help them learn with ease. Such children become depressed and this affects their output in academics and in other activities as well (Allen & Schwartz, 1996). Teachers should be accountable for ensuring they enhance themselves professionally. This will help in equipping teachers and other personnel with appropriate skills and knowledge for handling the learners who are handicapped.

Inclusion also requires the support of the family and the society at large. The attitudes they have contributes to the learner’s failure or success in whatever they do. Research indicates that most disabled children are shunned by the society and their own families as well. This affects them psychologically such that they blame themselves for the conditions that they have. As a result their performance in school keeps dropping unless intervention measures are put in place to curb the situation (Winzer, 2009).

Critical Assessment

During the research study, there were limitations that the researcher encountered which include; an environment that was not very conducive in that in some schools, the survey process would be undertaken as required due to rules and regulations of the schools. In some cases, the subjects were not free to participate in this research. The other limitation is that teachers and administrators had negative attitudes towards the inclusion practices; therefore, this limited the responses they gave and adequate information would not be obtained. The inclusion program was not properly implemented with some sections not being fully given maximum attention.

The solutions to these problems include; conducting of sensitization programs among the teachers so as to address their beliefs and values with regard to inclusive schooling .they have to be equipped with skills that will enable them accept and instruct learners of all types without any discrimination. This is because children rely on them for guidance and instruction. They therefore play a vital role in shaping the lives of these young people (Allen & Schwartz, 1996). A pleasant and secure school environment ought to be provided as this will allow students to interact properly. Children with special needs have to be made aware that they are safe and that their best interests are taken into consideration.teh conditions they have usually makes them to be emotionally disturbed and sensitive to many things (Winzer, 2009).

There is also need to develop an effective integration program by careful planning. This new program can then be implemented and appropriate measures be put in place in ensure it is operating effectively.

Conclusion

Inclusion processes require collaborative efforts to ensure that everything is successful and that the affected individuals get the necessary support they need for optimal development and self actualization. Every learner should be given equal opportunity regardless of their state or condition. Effective integration happens when particular conditions are present. Administrators should be willing and supportive. Alternatively, the teachers should be friendly and flexible. Schools should also have adequate special materials and equipment for effective learning. Teachers also have to go for further training on special need so that they are able to enhance their skills and provide differentiated instruction. On the other hand, parents should give support whenever it is required.