Teachers’ and School Administrators’ Preparedness in Handling Students with Special Needs In Inclusive Education In Kenya
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Date
2015
Authors
Gathumbi, Agnes
Ayot, Henry
Kimemia, John
Ondigi, Samson
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Knowledge Sharing Platform
Abstract
The philosophy of social inclusion is embedded in current legislation of the convention of child rights and the
requirement of equal opportunities for those with disability (Salamanca Statement, 1994). Inclusive education
entails taking care of all students including those with special needs like physical, mental or developmental. This
paper reports the outcome of a study that assessed the level of teachers’ and school administrators’ preparedness
to handle inclusive education. The participants were 140 teachers and 13 Principals of selected secondary
schools in Kenya. A questionnaire, interview schedule and classroom observation tool were used for data
collection. Data were analysed descriptively and using inferential statistics. Results revealed physical
infrastructure and instructional resources are unsuitable to support learners with special needs. There was general
lack of teacher training on pedagogy and knowledge on how to handle students with special needs. School
management policies regarding learners with special needs were not comprehensive enough to cater for all
students. Collaboration among teachers to support learners with special needs falls below expectation. There is
need to develop knowledge base on inclusive education, to meet learning needs of individual students. Teachers
should undergo periodic refresher courses to develop personalized learning approaches, skills and competences,
to effectively handle the heterogeneous nature of contemporary classes.
Description
A research article published in Journal of Education and Practice
Keywords
Inclusive education, Special needs, Preparedness, Pedagogical knowledge base
Citation
Gathumbi, A., Ayot, H., Kimemia, J., & Ondigi, S. (2015). Teachers' and School Administrators' Preparedness in Handling Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Education in Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(24), 129-138.