INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

What is inclusive education? Inclusive education is when all students, regardless of any challenges they may have, are placed in age-appropriate general education classes that are in their own neighborhood schools to receive high quality instruction, interventions, and supports that enable them to meet success in the core curriculum (Bui, Quirl, Almazan, & Valenti 2010; Alqurani & Gut, 2012)

Education for ALL, is the theme of inclusive education, persons with difficulties could be able to join the regular students in a classroom set up. This means that the institution must operate on the premise that students with disabilities are as competent as those learners without learning difficulties.

However still researchers are taking some considerations on how the differences in terms of instruction be addressed, for this includes academic gains with the learners with disabilities must also gain in literacy in terms of reading apprehension, numeracy skills, good communication skills and maybe able to work collaboratively with learners without disabilities.

While on the part of the parents at first there is hesitation for them that their children would be joining the regular learners, they are thinking that their children might be bullied or be left out in terms of academic progress. There is definite need for teachers to be supported in implementing the inclusive education, from a study it was found out that teachers had of negative attitudes about inclusive education (de Boer, Pijl, & Minnaert, 2011). Teachers do not feel that they are very knowledgeable, competent or confident in teaching the learners with disabilities.

The education sector are into upon implementing inclusive education teachers must be trained rigorously in handling learners with disabilities, thus inclusive education’s objective can be attained.

--oOo— The author is Teacher III at Pampanga High School