Adaptations of Schools Environment in Murang' a District to Suit the Requirements of Children with Special Needs
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Date
2014-06-30
Authors
Wakahiga, Peter Mbira
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
This study sought to determine the adaptations made in school environments
to suit the needs oflearners with special educational needs (SNE) in Murang'a
District of Central Province, Kenya. The study was linked to the eco-systemic
theory. The theory expounds on the importance of the interaction between
learners and the environment for good development. However in the case of
learners with SNE, the environment in public primary schools has to be
modified for effective interaction. A sample of 12 public primary schools was
randomly selected from the 207 primary schools in Murang'a District. The
study adopted a descriptive survey design to determine the adaptations that
had been made in public primary schools to make a barrier free environment
for learners with SNE. The researcher targeted the headteachers and school
management committees Chairpersons as respondents so as to gather
information on the environmental modifications done and what remained to be
done. An interview schedule and an observation guide were used to collect the
information. A pilot study was carried out in two schools which were not
included in the main survey. Test-retest method was used to ascertain
reliability of the research tools. Data was analyzed and interpreted using
percentages and frequencies. Qualitative data was summarized in narrative
form. The findings of the study were that, some environmental modifications
were done in some schools. However, in most of the schools no environmental
modifications were done. In some schools individual learners with visual
impartment were bought spectacles while others were bought goats for income
generating purpose. In three of the primary schools, some three learners with
hearing impartment, mental challenges and physically impairments were taken
to special schools for the deaf, school for the mentally handicapped and school
for the physically handicapped respectively. The findings show that there is a
need to have the primary schools' environments modified to suit learners with
various special educational needs since learners with SNE were enrolled in all
the primary schools. The researcher recommended the complete modification
of the public primary schools environments to make them barrier free for
learners with SNE. The researcher also recommended that serious campaign
be launched to sensitize the non-disabled learners, teachers, parents, and other
stakeholders on the needs of learners with special learning needs.
Description
Department of Special Needs Education, 86p. The LC 3988 .K4W32 2009
Keywords
Special education --Kenya, Children with disabilities --Kenya, School environment --Kenya