A number of developing countries continue to
provide educational services to students with disabilities in
"segregated" schools. In India, "integrated
education" has been provided mainly to students with mild disabilities who
are considered "easy" to include into regular school programs.
Students with severe disabilities, in a majority of cases, do not attend a
school, or in rare cases, attend a special school; but to achieve inclusion in
real sense, only if all
other options fail should the child be separated from the mainstream classroom.
Education is not
simply about making schools available for those who are already able to access
them. It is about being proactive in identifying the barriers and obstacles
learners encounter in attempting to access opportunities for quality education,
as well as in removing those barriers and obstacles that lead to exclusion.
How do you
think that the understanding about inclusive education differs in India from developed countries?.
The concept of Inclusive Education is not known to many in India and even if it is known, people are hesitant to put their children into schools whose standards they can never match up to. The schools are reluctant to include such children as they are not convinced as to how these children would adapt in a normal environment. In such a scenario every teacher should have training in special education too only then can she handle such students. Inclusive education is a blessing in disguise for those chosen few, but has posed a challenge for the schools, teachers and the normal children too.
ReplyDeletegood lakshmi...but where do we lack.is it in the training that we are giving to our prospective teachers or the lack of resources. where does the problem actually lie & how do u think we as a community can
ReplyDeleteovercome this .
We lack at the grass root level, i,e the connect with the masses. The divide is in the minds of the people which has its inception since time immemorial and it would take another decade to overcome this. Apart from this,it can be said that the Government is just implementing such systems superficially. It should be a collaborative effort of the schools, teachers and parents to make this INCLUSION a success. The problem does not lie with the teachers it lies in the mentality of the masses or the so called society. Awareness needs to be created by the Government, even Schools can take the initiative and be accomodative and approachable, teachers can play a major role by inculcating values of acceptance among children so that the forthcoming generations can welcome such children with a smile.
ReplyDeleteGood assessment of the present situation Lakshmi
Delete“Ignorance … is a guarantee of marginalisation.”
Lewin (2000: 23),
therefore government policies on INCLUSION are required to be propagated by the prospective teachers to all concern. Teachers must try to bring in the change within their area of influence which would be a stepping stone in achieving inclusion in real sense.
According to me Obstacles And Barriers comes when we are not aware about our rights what we have..... today being ACT Right to education (with integrated eduction) in place we are not exercising to its fullest. Instead of blaming govt we should use current ACT or law in fruitful way... Somewhere someone have start it.... why not B.Ed should try and spread awareness about RTE.
ReplyDeleterightly said Sameer, its good to be aware of our rights and spread it as well, moreover the beliefs, myths, social taboo and reluctance on part of stakeholders in implementation of inclusion are the main barriers in achieving the desired result.
ReplyDeleteStakeholders should know that a segregated school program does not prepare young people to be part of the community and society when they become adults. Growing up and interacting with their peers does that.
Secondly, a system that encourages schools and teachers to abandon children and youth who have learning challenges is not good policy. Presuming that any child with special needs must be sent to a special program erodes the professional stature of teaching as a profession. Individual teachers may need support in a number of areas but their professional and ethical responsibility is to teach all children. Defining the regular classroom a place for “ordinary” learners and putting unrealistic pressure on school systems to develop a parallel system for all those thus abandoned also takes the focus off efforts for school improvement. It is bad educational policy, and in the long term it is not financially sustainable, as the struggles over funding issues experienced in many parts of the world demonstrate.
Finally, segregated special education is not appropriate from a moral or human rights perspective.
the 1st and foremost question is " does everyone know what is INCLUSIVE education?" before the obstacles the implementation and awareness is most important..................
ReplyDeletefirstly the obstacle is the attitude of the schools in its implementation secondly is the attitudes of the parents of th students who might not want their kids to study with a certain category of children and lastly its the apprenehension of students themselves....
ReplyDeleteTasneem Kadri
ReplyDeletei think all 5 fingers of our hand is not similar still when all 5 come together there is strength.similarly,students with disabilities have some or another potential in them,so every 1 needs every 1 else help.thus inclusive education should be provided,so that every 1 r benifitted with some or the other qualities
Rajeshwari>I agree to Divya"s opinion but the main issue is with the parents who have drawn a line between the rich & the poor ..the parents feel that the environment of the school and the fellow students is important in framing the child"s personality.. so they are opposing the Inclusive Education idea..thus it is important to make the parents understand the need & advantages of Inclusive Education.
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Deletei agree to Tasneem kadri
ReplyDeleteThat all 5 fingers of our hand is not similar still when all 5 come together there is strength.similarly,students with disabilities have some or another potential in them,so every 1 needs every 1 else help.thus inclusive education should be provided,so that every 1 r benifitted with some or the other qualities.
Misbah
ReplyDeleteStakeholders should know that a segregated school program does not prepare young people to be part of the community and society when they become adults. Growing up and interacting with their peers does that.
very good answer Misbah- we all r part of society & success of any nation lies in including everyone & not segregating.Poverty & marginalization are the major causes of Exclusion.Strong focus should be on the learners who are still out of school,children in conflict zone,child laborers child domestic workers, orphans etc-everyone should receive good quality education.
DeleteIn India there is no strict followig of law and order .This has been reflected in many areas and even in education too . government in India needs to be very serious about inclusive edu. as it is found in the developed countries
ReplyDeleteThe main reason for the obstacle for the implementation in India is the unawareness among the teachers, parents. only once these people get the knowledge of inclusive education, only then inclusive will be included in all the schools.
ReplyDeleteSNEHA
ReplyDeleteeven Schools can take the initiative and be accomodative and approachable, teachers can play a major role by inculcating values of acceptance among children so that the forthcoming generations can welcome such children with a smile
The main reason I feel for not succeeding in inclusive education is lack of awareness among anyone. The parents should be well educated on this as well as children. Most parents dont want their child to study with a disabled child or the extremely gifted child. This education comes not only with the effort of school or teacher. It is a combined work to be implemented by schools, parents and the children. Steps could be taken to create more awareness.
ReplyDelete