INSIGHT Journal of Applied Research in Education
Vol. 24, No. 1, 2019
ISSN 0975-0665
VALUE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Najmah Peerzada
Abstract
The focus of this paper is to examine the value of inclusive education in order to make
learning environment conducive not only for specially-abled children but also for children
from diverse backgrounds. Every individual deserves a life of dignity and equal
opportunity- this includes the disabled section of the society. Inclusive education is perhaps
the most important component in pursuance of these goals. Inclusive education is not a
marginal issue; it is considered as central to the achievement of high quality education for
the whole society. It has been seen that if these children are treated like normal children and
if opportunities are extended to them they will surely not let down anyone including
themselves. A good number of them have brought laurels to parents, society and the state
to which they belong. Specially-abled people have proven their metal in different fields.
Keywords: Inclusive Education; Children with Disabilities; Integrated
Education; Value.
Introduction
E very individual deserves a life of dignity and equal opportunity irrespective of his
socio, ethnic background or his physical or mental limitations. And what greater
tool can there be in realization of this goal other than education. Education is a
fundamental human right to which every individual is entitled. With the advancement
of education, the awareness about the persons with special needs has taken a
completely new turn. They are no longer kept hidden away from the public view like
in the past centuries. Rather they are treated like all other normal children. When we
speak of education as a driver of social change we must first consider the best model –
one that envisions the realization of a better evolved future that is inclusive of all
Sr. Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Kashmir- Srinagar
INSIGHT Journal of Applied Research in Education, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2019
sections of the society especially the disabled ones. The best model for this is of course
the inclusive model of education. Inclusive education stands for educating all
students irrespective of their physical or mental challenges within a common
classroom environment alongside children with no disabilities to achieve synergized
progress in their development.
Inclusive education is a “process of strengthening the capacity of the
educational system to reach out to all learners”. Inclusive education involves
contemporary schools with emphasis on active learning, applied curriculum,
appropriate assessment methods, multi- level instructional approaches. It means
changes in how teacher teach, how students learn and also how students with and
without special needs interact with each other.
The Constitution of India ensures equality, justice and dignity of all
individual and mandates inclusive society for all.
Kothari Commission (1964-66) stressed a common school system open to
all children.
Regarding inclusion of children with disabilities it suggests that the
education of handicapped children should be organized not merely on
humanitarian grounds of utility. It observes that proper education enables a
handicapped child to overcome largely his or her handicap and make him
into a useful citizen. The Commission felt that experimentation with
integrated programmes is urgently required and every attempt should be
made to bring as many as possible children in the integrated programmes.
The National Policy on Education (1986) and modified in (1992) also laid
special emphasis on education of persons with disabilities.
The goal of inclusive system is to provide all students with suitable, more
appropriate and congenial environment and to achieve best of their potential. It is a
programme which is offered to meet the individual needs of each student within the
school community and develop among students the intellectual, social, emotional and
physical aspects of life. Researches show that most students learn and perform in
better way when exposed to the richness of the general education curriculum.
Integration is often mistaken for inclusion because students are placed in mainstream
classrooms, which in fact is a step towards inclusive.
Integrated education is similar to inclusive education, but without any
ideological commitment to equity. Integration, places students in a mainstream
classroom with “Some adaptations and resources”. However, students are expected to fit
in with pre-existing structure, attitudes and unaltered environment. This means if
there has not been a paradigm shift within the school and these students are not
perceived as equals, if curriculum is not taught for the understanding of all instead of
some, then the students are integrated, but not included in the school.
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Value of Inclusive Education
Inclusive education is meant to make schools centres of learning and the
educational system caring, nurturing and supportive educational communities where
the needs of all students are met in a true sense. It also means identifying any barriers
within and around the school that hinder learning and participation and removes
these barriers.
For a school to be inclusive, the attitudes of everyone in the school including
administrators, teachers and other students should be positive towards students with
disabilities. A least restrictive environment should be present in such a setup. Inclusive
education isn’t a programme, a place or a classroom but it is a way of understanding
and living in the real world. In other words, it should be open to all, and should
ensure that all students can learn and participate in a common situation and a
common milieu.
According to UNESCO the concept of inclusive education is that, “it involves
the admission of children with special education needs in ‘ordinary’ or ‘regular’
schools and may be described as pedagogic integration.
Standards of Inclusive Education:
Every student has a right to education on the basis of equality of
opportunity.
No student should be discriminated from education on the basis of race,
colour, sex, language, religion, social, national, disability, birth or poverty
etc.
All students can learn and can get benefited from education.
School should adapt to the needs of students, rather than students adapting
to the needs of the school.
Maximum participation of all the learners in the community schools of their
choice.
But What Does Inclusive Education Achieve:
When a child with disabilities and special needs attends classes along sides his
normal peers who do not have disabilities some fruitful things happens. They show
the ability to keep up with the rest of their peers. In this mode of education every child
feels secure and has a sense of belonging. They participate in the process of setting
goals and the act of learning. They also take part in making decisions that affects them.
The children learn at their own pace and style within a nurturing and learning
environment which actually solves many academic problems.
Inclusive education in essence stands for equality and accepts every child with
his or her unique capabilities. Inclusive therefore entails the educational system
making itself open and welcoming to all. This notion has gradually been accepted by
all the international, national and local educational programmes. Studies have shown
that systems that are truly inclusive reduce drop - out rates and stagnation of students
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INSIGHT Journal of Applied Research in Education, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2019
and have higher average levels of achievement as compared to systems that are not
inclusive. How children are treated in schools often mirrors how they will be treated
in later life. As with other minorities, segregated school placement leads to segregated
society, whereas inclusion in the earliest years promotes increased opportunity and
greater understanding of differences for all involved. A society that separates its
children is likely to maintain those separations indefinitely, reinforcing attitudinal
barriers to disability in all aspects of life. Inclusive education is child’s right, not a
privilege. In short inclusive education is a process of enabling all students, including
previously excluded groups to learn and participate effectively within main stream
school system. Inclusive education aims to develop a child focused approach by
acknowledging that all children are individuals with different learning needs and
speeds and yet can be educated and trained without alienating them from their normal
peers.
You may all recall the movie “Taray Zameen Per”, and how the teacher played
an inclusive role for the boy well within the system.
Inclusive education is part of development and development must always be
inclusive, which means it must respond to the needs of real people who are all
different. So a radical change in our attitude is necessary. A change in our attitudes
will cause a change in our practices. Our attitudes will drive a continuum of support
for every child as opposed to a default position of segregation. Our attitudes will bring
more than tolerance. They will bring understanding and acceptance.
Conclusion
So I may conclude with these words that it is really necessary to have inclusive
education everywhere so that the children having disabilities will live their life
normally and happily. I would also like to say that especially abled people deserve an
equal standing in the society, a life of dignity and an opportunity to participate in
social, political and economic affairs of the society and each one of us should try to
play our roles in this noble pursuit.
In the end I will like to quote Renee Laporte, “When someone is truly included,
no one will question their presence- only their absence”.
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