CHAPTER TWO
CONCEPT OF INCLUSION
Definition of Inclusion
Inclusion in education/service refers to an ongoing
process education/services for all while respecting
diversity and the different needs and abilities,
characteristics and learning expectations of the students
and communities and eliminating all forms of
discrimination.
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Definition of Inclusion …
an ongoing process aimed at offering quality education/services for all
process of addressing and responding to the diversity of needs of all
changes and modifications in content, approaches, structures and
strategies covers all
wide range of strategies, activities and processes that seek to make a
reality of the universal right to quality, relevant and appropriate
education and services to all
acknowledges that learning begins at birth and continues throughout
life
enable communities, systems and structures in all cultures and
contexts to combat discrimination, and celebrate diversity
It is part of a wider strategy promoting inclusive development
It goal is to creating a world where there is peace, tolerance, and
sustainable use of resources, social justice, and where the basic needs
and rights of all are met
… contn’d
The above definition of inclusion has following components:
Concepts about learners
Education is a fundamental human right for all people
Learning begins at birth and continues throughout life
All children have a right to education within their own community
Everyone can learn, and any child can experience difficulties in
learning
All learners need their learning supported child-focused teaching
benefits all children.
Concepts about the education system and schools
It is broader than formal schooling
it is flexible, responsive educational systems
It creates enabling and welcoming educational environments
It promotes school improvement – makes effective schools
It involves whole school approach and collaboration between partners.
… contn’d
Concepts about diversity and discrimination
It promotes combating discrimination and exclusionary
pressures at any social sectors
It enables responding to/embracing diversity as a resource not
as a problem
It prepares learners for an inclusive society that respects and
values difference.
Concepts about processes to promote inclusion
It helps to identifying and overcoming barriers to participation
and exclusionary pressures
It increases real participation of all collaboration, partnership
between all stakeholders
It promotes participatory methodology, action research,
collaborative enquiry and other related activities
… contn’d
Concepts about resources
Promotes unlocking and fully using local resources
redistributing existing resources
It helps to perceive people (children, parents, teachers,
members of marginalized groups, etc) as key resources
It helps to use appropriate resources and support within
schools and at local levels for the needs of different
children, e.g. mother tongue tuition, Braille, assistive
devices.
Inclusion is About : Inclusion IS NOT about:
Welcoming diversity Reforms of special education
Benefiting all learners, not alone;
only targeting the excluded Responding only to diversity;
Children in school who may Meeting the needs of children
not feel excluded with disabilities only; and
Providing equal access to Meeting one child’s needs at
education by provision of the expense of another child.
support
Shift from exclusion-to-inclusion
• Segregated Educational Provisions
• Integrated Education
• Inclusive Education
Patterns of Development
Inclusion
Knowledge
(Rights based
approach – Participation,
Equality, Community)
Integration
Understanding
(Special Needs
Education, Inclusive
Education)
Segregation
Acceptance
(Institutional
provision/ benevolence,
charity)
Exclusion
Denial
Segregated Education
Does not
• Groups of students respond,
cannot learn
categorized as with
‘special needs'
Needs Has special
predominantly physically special needs
teachers
and/ or mentally impaired
• Approaches and responses
have been essentially Child as
problem
remedial and corrective
• Special institutional and
curricular arrangements - Needs
special
Needs
special
‘special methods’, ‘special environm
ent
equipment
teachers’, ‘special
Is different
environments’ and ‘special from other
equipment’ children
• Segregation from society,
community and family
Child as problem in need of ‘fixing’
Integrated education
• Involves the school in a process of Teachers’
attitudes
assimilation
Poor Rigid methods,
• Onus is on the assimilating quality rigid
learner to make changes so that training curriculum
they can ‘fit in’ to the mainstream
school environment
Lack of Child
• ‘Integrated child’ either: teaching must Inaccessible
learning ‘fit in’ environments
– left to cope with no support in materials to school
a rigid system, or…
– receives individual attention Parents Many drop-
that separates her from peers not outs,
involved many repeaters
• Drop outs, repeats, or exclusion
often perceived as fault of the Teachers
and
child; they school
not
– ‘could not follow the supporte
curriculum’ d
– ‘could not cope with other
children's comments’ School set up makes
learning difficult
Principles of Inclusion
UNESCO has identified three important elements of inclusive
education
Inclusion is a process: Inclusion has to be seen as a never ending
search to find better ways of responding to diversity.
It is about learning how to appreciate differences and learn from
diversity. In this way, differences come to be seen more positively,
as a stimulus for fostering learning among both children and adults.
Inclusion is concerned with the identification and removal of
barriers:
It involves collecting, collating and evaluating information from a
wide variety of sources in order to plan for improvements in policy
and practice.
It is about using evidence of various kinds to stimulate creativity
and problem solving.
Principles…
Inclusion is about presence, participation and achievement
Presence- concerned with where children are educated, and how
reliably they attend;
Participation- the quality of their experiences while they are present
and must incorporate the views of the learners themselves;
Achievement- is about outcomes of learning across the curriculum,
not merely tests or examination results.
Inclusion involves a particular emphasis on those groups of learners
who may be at risk of marginalization, exclusion or under-
achievement.
Refers that there is a moral responsibility to ensure that those groups
that are statistically most ‘at risk’ are carefully monitored and that
where necessary steps are taken to ensure their presence,
participation and achievement in the education system.
Factors that Influenced Development of Inclusion
Inclusiveness originated from three major ideas
inclusive education is a basic human right;
quality education results from inclusion of students with diverse
needs and ability differences
there is no clear demarcation between the characteristics of
students with and without disabilities and vulnerabilities
Barriers Development of Inclusion
Existing attitudes and values
Lack of understanding
Lack of necessary skills,
Limited resources
Inappropriate organization
Benefits of Inclusion
1. Benefits for Students with Special Needs Education
In inclusive settings people will develop:
Learn socialization through social interaction
Promote friendship and gain peer role models
improved academic achievement
Increase school attending and participation
Increased parental participation
Allows Target students to be grouped
2. Benefits for persons without Special Needs Education
Have increased appreciation, acceptance and respect
Create opportunity to understand diversity
Gain knowledge how to deal with individual difference, and
human exceptionality.
Benefits …
3. Benefits for Teachers Benefits for Parents/Family
Learn more about how their children are being
They have more opportunities to learn new ways to
teach different kinds of students. educated in schools with their peers in an
They gain new knowledge, such as the different inclusive environment
ways children learn and can be taught. Become personally involved and feel a greater
They develop more positive attitudes and sense of accomplishment in helping their
approaches children to learn.
They have greater opportunities to explore new Feel valued and consider themselves as equal
ideas with communicating other school clusters and
partners in providing quality learning
or with parents.
opportunities for children.
They can encourage their students to be more
interested, more creative and more attentive Find out ways to interact with others in the
They get opportunities to exchange information community, as well as to understand and help
about instructional activities and teaching solve each other‘s problems.
They benefit from developing teamwork and Know that their children and ALL children are
collaborative problem-solving skills to creatively receiving a quality education.
address SWD
Experience positive attitude about themselves
and their children by seeing their children
accepted by others, successful in the inclusive
setting, and belonging to the community
where they live
Benefits …
2.4. Benefits for Society
helps break down barriers & prejudice that prevail in the
society towards PWD
Bring values and appreciates differences in human beings
cost effective
Rationale of inclusion
Educational foundation
• Children do better academically, psychologically and socially in
inclusive settings.
• A more efficient use of education resources.
• Decreases dropouts and repetitions
• Teachers competency ( knowledge, skills, collaboration,
satisfaction.
Social Foundation
• Segregation teaches individuals to be fearful, ignorant and breeds
prejudice.
• All individuals need an education that will help them develop
relationships and prepare them for life in the wider community.
• Only inclusion has the potential to reduce fear and to build
friendship, respect and understanding
Rationale of inclusion…
Legal Foundations
• All individuals have the right to learn and live together.
• Human being shouldn‘t be devalued or discriminated
against by being excluded or sent away because of their
disability.
• There are no legitimate reasons to separate children for
their education
Economic Foundation
• has economic benefit, both for individual and for society
• is more cost-effective than the creation of special schools
across the country.
Rationale of inclusion…
• Children with disabilities go to local schools
• Reduce wastage of repetition and dropout
• Children with disabilities live with their family use
community infrastructure
• Better employment and job creation opportunities for
people with disabilities
Foundations for Building Inclusive Society
• Formation of mutual understanding and appreciation of
diversity
• Building up empathy/compassion, tolerance and
cooperation
• Promotion of sustainable development
2.4. Ultimate Goal of Inclusion
to create homes, schools and societies where everyone belongs
welcoming all in all environmental and developmental arenas.
Create opportunity to understanding of difference and diversity
To create Inclusive society
To promote inclusive circle:
Inclusive Inclusive
Schools Education
Inclusive Inclusive
Development Society
Features of Inclusive Environment
Is about belongingness
welcomes all people, regardless of their disability and other vulnerabilities
Is about respectful, supportive, and equalizing
reaches out to and includes PWD and vulnerabilities in all levels
adjusted to individuals’ needs and not vice versa
Differences are a source of richness and diversity, but not as a problem
developing culture, policy and practice which meet pupils’ diversified needs
Major characteristics Inclusive Environment
it ensures the respect and dignity PWD
provides accommodations willingly and proactively
promote inclusiveness and quality provisions and practice
It involves mobilizing resources within the community
It strives to create strong links with, clinicians, caregivers, and staff
It develops social relationships as an equal member of the class
It involves restructuring environment, culture, policy, and practice
It recognizes and responds to the diverse needs
Barriers to Inclusion
Attitudinal barriers;
Problems related with societal values and beliefs
Economic factors (poverty)
lack of implementation of inclusive policies
Lack of cooperation, collaboration and taking responsibility among
stakeholders
Conservative traditions among the community members about
inclusion
Lack of knowledge and skills among teachers regarding inclusive
education
Rigid curricula, teaching method and examination systems
Fragile democratic institutions that could not promote inclusion
Large class sizes that make teachers and stakeholders meet
students’ diverse needs
Globalization and free market policy
