Educators' preferred forms of schooling for learners with special needs in Namibia

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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA)
Abstract
This paper is an abridged extract from one of the chapters of my dissertation which attempts to develop an insight into the preferred forms of schooling for learners with special educational needs in Namibia. A questionnaire was administered to a stratified sample of 616 Namibian primary, combined, and secondary school educators. Educators had to give their views regarding the inclusion of learners with special educational needs into regular schools. Educators also had to indicate the type of schooling that learners with predetermined categories of disabilities should receive. Some of the major findings were the following: • The majority of respondents felt that learners with special needs would be better off in special schools and that teaching of learners with special needs should remain a separate specialised field. • The results further showed that the majority of respondents suggested one of the following options for learners with disabilities: a regular classroom, a special class, and a special school. Very few chose a residential facility, a home or a hospital. • The results also showed that as the level of disability increased there appeared to be a decline in willingness amongst educators to include either a learner with hearing impairment, physical impairment, conduct impairment or learning difficulties in a regular classroom. In view of findings it becomes vitally important to address educators’ views and concerns before inclusive educational policies are implemented.
Description
Journal in the library call No. scp 370.96881 ner
Keywords
Learners with special needs, Learner with hearing impairment, Special educational needs
Citation
Mowes, A. D. (2008). Educators' preferred forms of schooling for learners with special needs in Namibia. Nera Journal A Journal for the Namibian Educational Research Association, 56-67.