Although there are clear differences in national policies regarding inclusive education, the inte... more Although there are clear differences in national policies regarding inclusive education, the international debate has not fully considered their impact on implementation within different countries, for example on teacher education. This paper reports on results from a comparative study of in-service teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices in South Africa and Finland and its implications for teacher education in these countries. A sample of 319 South African and 822 Finnish primary and secondary education teachers completed a questionnaire containing a scale measuring sentiments, attitudes and concerns on inclusive education as well as a scale measuring teachers’ self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices. A comparative analysis indicated that whereas the overall sentiments towards disabilities were positive in both countries, teachers had many concerns about the consequences of including children with disabilities in their classrooms. While the most positive aspect of self-efficacy among the South African teachers was their self-efficacy in managing behaviour, the Finnish teachers saw this as their weakest point. Self-efficacy, in particular efficacy in collaboration, was clearly related to overall attitudes towards inclusion. The implications of these findings for pre-service and in-service teacher education are discussed.
This study investigates the nature of concerns and attitudes held by preservice teachers regardin... more This study investigates the nature of concerns and attitudes held by preservice teachers regarding inclusive education and their degree of comfort on interaction with people with disabilities. Pre-service training may be the optimal time to address educators' concerns and alter any negative attitudes about inclusive education. This paper reports the perceptions of pre-service teachers prior to their involvement in units of work focusing specifically on inclusive education in universities located in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Results indicate significant differences exist between the students in the eastern countries of Singapore and Hong Kong, and those in the western countries of Canada and Australia. Participants in the Western countries tended to have more positive sentiments and attitudes towards students with disabilities, and more concerns than their Eastern counterparts. The study also suggests that in most instances pre-service teachers have more positive attitudes towards people with disabilities and inclusion, and more confidence in implementing inclusive practice when they have had additional training and / or experience with people with disabilities.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, 2012
2004 has come to be seen by many in Singapore as a watershed year with the shift in the position ... more 2004 has come to be seen by many in Singapore as a watershed year with the shift in the position of the government towards encouraging greater integration of students with disabilities in mainstream settings. This study investigated the attitudes of 1538 mainstream pre-service teachers towards disability and inclusive education during this period of policy change. Analysis of the data indicated that the pre-service teachers had little or no knowledge and experience with disability, and generally possessed negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. They evinced ambivalent feelings towards inclusive education, and expressed a preference for special school placements for students with disabilities. While they were open to the inclusion of students with social or communication difficulties, they were not favourable to including students with physical disabilities, sensory impairment, learning disabilities and behavioural problems in mainstream settings. Implications of these findings were discussed and recommendations were made for the inclusion of training in special education at both pre-service and in-service levels.
The inclusion of learners with special educational needs in general education is becoming more pr... more The inclusion of learners with special educational needs in general education is becoming more prevalent. As a result various special education researchers have begun to examine the success of inclusion, as well as the attitudes and beliefs of general educators towards the inclusion of learners with disabilities in the general education classroom. In the present study, preservice educators' attitudes towards inclusive education were investigated. The participants are full time students of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. These students are registered for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education, B.Phys.ed) and B.A (Ed) and they are all in their final year of study. The students are mainly English-speaking. The sample comprises of 22 students seven males and fifteen females. Convenient sampling design was employed. A questionnaire developed by Choles (1997) was adapted and was used as a measuring instrument to record the responses of the research respondents. The adapted questionnaire comprised of the following sections: Biographical details, Attitudes towards inclusive education, Requirements for competency, Requirements for successful inclusion and Attitudes towards learners with Special Needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research participants were generally found to have positive attitudes toward inclusive education. The results of this investigation are significant in the sense that the understanding of pre-service educators' attitudes is critical for the successful implementation
Although there are clear differences in national policies regarding inclusive education, the inte... more Although there are clear differences in national policies regarding inclusive education, the international debate has not fully considered their impact on implementation within different countries, for example on teacher education. This paper reports on results from a comparative study of in-service teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices in South Africa and Finland and its implications for teacher education in these countries. A sample of 319 South African and 822 Finnish primary and secondary education teachers completed a questionnaire containing a scale measuring sentiments, attitudes and concerns on inclusive education as well as a scale measuring teachers’ self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices. A comparative analysis indicated that whereas the overall sentiments towards disabilities were positive in both countries, teachers had many concerns about the consequences of including children with disabilities in their classrooms. While the most positive aspect of self-efficacy among the South African teachers was their self-efficacy in managing behaviour, the Finnish teachers saw this as their weakest point. Self-efficacy, in particular efficacy in collaboration, was clearly related to overall attitudes towards inclusion. The implications of these findings for pre-service and in-service teacher education are discussed.
This study investigates the nature of concerns and attitudes held by preservice teachers regardin... more This study investigates the nature of concerns and attitudes held by preservice teachers regarding inclusive education and their degree of comfort on interaction with people with disabilities. Pre-service training may be the optimal time to address educators' concerns and alter any negative attitudes about inclusive education. This paper reports the perceptions of pre-service teachers prior to their involvement in units of work focusing specifically on inclusive education in universities located in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Results indicate significant differences exist between the students in the eastern countries of Singapore and Hong Kong, and those in the western countries of Canada and Australia. Participants in the Western countries tended to have more positive sentiments and attitudes towards students with disabilities, and more concerns than their Eastern counterparts. The study also suggests that in most instances pre-service teachers have more positive attitudes towards people with disabilities and inclusion, and more confidence in implementing inclusive practice when they have had additional training and / or experience with people with disabilities.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, 2012
2004 has come to be seen by many in Singapore as a watershed year with the shift in the position ... more 2004 has come to be seen by many in Singapore as a watershed year with the shift in the position of the government towards encouraging greater integration of students with disabilities in mainstream settings. This study investigated the attitudes of 1538 mainstream pre-service teachers towards disability and inclusive education during this period of policy change. Analysis of the data indicated that the pre-service teachers had little or no knowledge and experience with disability, and generally possessed negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. They evinced ambivalent feelings towards inclusive education, and expressed a preference for special school placements for students with disabilities. While they were open to the inclusion of students with social or communication difficulties, they were not favourable to including students with physical disabilities, sensory impairment, learning disabilities and behavioural problems in mainstream settings. Implications of these findings were discussed and recommendations were made for the inclusion of training in special education at both pre-service and in-service levels.
The inclusion of learners with special educational needs in general education is becoming more pr... more The inclusion of learners with special educational needs in general education is becoming more prevalent. As a result various special education researchers have begun to examine the success of inclusion, as well as the attitudes and beliefs of general educators towards the inclusion of learners with disabilities in the general education classroom. In the present study, preservice educators' attitudes towards inclusive education were investigated. The participants are full time students of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. These students are registered for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education, B.Phys.ed) and B.A (Ed) and they are all in their final year of study. The students are mainly English-speaking. The sample comprises of 22 students seven males and fifteen females. Convenient sampling design was employed. A questionnaire developed by Choles (1997) was adapted and was used as a measuring instrument to record the responses of the research respondents. The adapted questionnaire comprised of the following sections: Biographical details, Attitudes towards inclusive education, Requirements for competency, Requirements for successful inclusion and Attitudes towards learners with Special Needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research participants were generally found to have positive attitudes toward inclusive education. The results of this investigation are significant in the sense that the understanding of pre-service educators' attitudes is critical for the successful implementation
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