Implementation of inclusive education for Children with special needs in primary schools in Kasarani division Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The study was on the implementation of inclusive education for children with special needs in primary schools in Kasarani Division of Nairobi County, Kenya The purpose of the study was to investigate how inclusive education for children with special learning needs in public primary schools has been implemented; determine the disability types, number of inclusive schools, available resources, support services, qualified personnel, financial sources and changes put in place during implementation.The study employed survey research design. The study locale was the public primary schools in Kasarani division Nairobi County. Simple random sampling was used to obtain the sample.The study sample wasI40 primary school teachers andiO headteachers. Aquestionnaire, an interview guide and an observation schedule were used to collect data. The research instruments were pretested in three schools.The findings showed that majority of the schools were identified as regular schools with inclusive education. The main source of finance was the government through training of teachers, provision of resource persons, provision of facilities such as classrooms and other physical facilities as well as provision of teaching and learning resources. Majority of the teacher-respondents had no training in special education, However, most had attended a seminar or workshop on special needs education. The main available teachingllearning resources and equipment were writing materials and textbooks (for pupils and teachers)I20(86%) of them stated that, the least available were audiovisual equipment and special aids .Majority of the schools had appropriate desks available, but they did not have braille, wheel chairs" walkers and crutches available. The study recommended that the government should invest more on audiovisual learning aids tosupplement already existing facility. The study also recommended that training of teachers in special needs should be subsidized by the government to encourage more teachers to have such further training.