Inclusive education

Abstract

Purpose:- This report seeks to look at current practices and initiatives followed by primary schools in urban areas in India for inclusion of students with physical disabilities in the primary education system. Further, to recommend a few measures and initiatives that primary schools could implement to increase inclusion of students with physical disabilities. Design/Methodology/Approach:- The study was intended to derive conclusive insights for cost v/s effectiveness of the initiatives for inclusive education and give recommendations for the inclusion of physically disabled children at the primary level of Education. The scope of the study was limited to the urban primary schools in Bangalore, Karnataka. Interviews and observation methods were used as the primary tool for the study. The study covered the following- i) Intensive review of the literature available on Inclusive education ii) Visits to the schools for interview and observation to examine the current inclusive practices. Questionnaire was designed which covered the focus areas of in and around inclusive education. A spectrum of schools from the affluent privately run to the charitable schools was selected for the study. Qualitative data was collected from the interviews with the concerned authorities like principal, teachers, counselors, special educators etc. in each school. The assessment of the infrastructure in the school was basically through observation due to limited access. The data collected was analyzed and discussed to give the final recommendations for the best practices that can be replicated across primary schools in India for the inclusion of children with physical disabilities in the education process. Findings:-The data analysis from the three-pronged methodology of questionnaire design, observation methods and interviews shows the current state of the inclusive education in the primary schools is appalling and requires immense improvisation for facilitation of inclusion of disabled students at the primary level. Practical Implications:- While corporate entities and professional educational institutions have started implementing effective measures to increase inclusion of persons with physical disabilities, the measures for inclusion are quite dismal at the primary education level. This means that students, who miss opportunities early on in their life, may actually get excluded from the entire education cycle, unable to compete in and cope up with the demands of selection processes for higher education, professional education and ultimately the professional career. Despite the level of disability, the differently abled students must receive knowledge, support and assistance required for their holistic development. This study aims to address this issue by helping primary schools understand that with a few lost cost yet effective initiatives they could impact the long-term inclusion of children with physical disabilities.