scholarly journals Quality of Education offered to Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the era of Free Primary Education (FPE) in Rural Kenya: Perspectives of Educationists, Teachers and Parents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Charles Makori Omoke
Keyword(s):  
Primary Education ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Free Primary Education ◽  
Regular Teachers ◽  
Teachers And Parents

<p>The education of children with special educational needs (SEN) has been a focus of international inquiry. There is a strong advocacy for the inclusion of children with SEN in regular schools although this remains contentious and challenging. Despite an emphasis by the Kenyan government that children with SEN should be included in regular schooling, there has not been substantial investigation especially in rural settings on how these children can receive quality education. This thesis seeks to address this issue by exploring the perspectives of educationists, teachers and parents on the quality of education offered to children with SEN in the era of free primary education in a rural setting. A qualitative interpretive approach to research was used to generate data through interviews with government officials, teachers and parents, focus group discussions with regular teachers and observations in three schools spread over three rural districts. Thematic analysis was employed in analysing the data. A critical theory approach focussing on social justice and rights of children as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was used as a lens. The findings revealed that despite policy articulation, children with SEN occupied the role of “others” in schools and the society and were described in negative terms. Participants, especially regular staff and parents were emphatic that children with SEN required “experts” and “special” resources both of which were not available in regular schools. The participants felt that the available curriculum was relevant for “normal” children and therefore could not meet the educational needs of children with SEN. The broad conclusion drawn from this study is that there is need to distinctly define the terms inclusive education, special education and mainstream education in a way that the core stakeholders can understand, interpret and implement within their contexts. Designing a means of progress monitoring other than national examinations may help motivate both regular teachers and parents to see the need to have children with SEN in regular schools. There is need for further investigation on how regular teachers can be persuaded from existing beliefs that they are not qualified to teach children with SEN and how to convince parents that their children are worthy of an education.</p>

scholarly journals Quality of Education offered to Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the era of Free Primary Education (FPE) in Rural Kenya: Perspectives of Educationists, Teachers and Parents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Charles Makori Omoke
Keyword(s):  
Primary Education ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Free Primary Education ◽  
Regular Teachers ◽  
Teachers And Parents

<p>The education of children with special educational needs (SEN) has been a focus of international inquiry. There is a strong advocacy for the inclusion of children with SEN in regular schools although this remains contentious and challenging. Despite an emphasis by the Kenyan government that children with SEN should be included in regular schooling, there has not been substantial investigation especially in rural settings on how these children can receive quality education. This thesis seeks to address this issue by exploring the perspectives of educationists, teachers and parents on the quality of education offered to children with SEN in the era of free primary education in a rural setting. A qualitative interpretive approach to research was used to generate data through interviews with government officials, teachers and parents, focus group discussions with regular teachers and observations in three schools spread over three rural districts. Thematic analysis was employed in analysing the data. A critical theory approach focussing on social justice and rights of children as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was used as a lens. The findings revealed that despite policy articulation, children with SEN occupied the role of “others” in schools and the society and were described in negative terms. Participants, especially regular staff and parents were emphatic that children with SEN required “experts” and “special” resources both of which were not available in regular schools. The participants felt that the available curriculum was relevant for “normal” children and therefore could not meet the educational needs of children with SEN. The broad conclusion drawn from this study is that there is need to distinctly define the terms inclusive education, special education and mainstream education in a way that the core stakeholders can understand, interpret and implement within their contexts. Designing a means of progress monitoring other than national examinations may help motivate both regular teachers and parents to see the need to have children with SEN in regular schools. There is need for further investigation on how regular teachers can be persuaded from existing beliefs that they are not qualified to teach children with SEN and how to convince parents that their children are worthy of an education.</p>

scholarly journals Children with Special Educational Needs and Their Inclusion in the Educational System: Pedagogical and Psychological Aspects

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anda Kauliņa ◽  
Daina Voita ◽  
Irēna Trubina ◽  
Toms Voits
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Education Professionals ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Education Opportunity

Abstract One of the measures of the quality of education system is equal access to the education opportunity to enable learning for everyone. In the recent years, multiple conventions, declarations, announcements and resolutions regarding inclusive education have been approved internationally and included in the Latvian law of education. Nevertheless, even with the abundant amount of data and previous research results, the introduction and provision of inclusive education in practice has been controversial. The main focus has been placed on child inclusion within the educational system, but support for teachers and parents or legal guardians has not always been sufficient. For inclusive education to be truly successful, all involved parties should be receiving adequate support. Aim of the present study: analysis and evaluation of the present state of inclusive education framework and its success within the Latvian educational system. Materials and methods: literature review, survey. Conclusions: Inclusion of children with special educational needs in the inclusive education framework is a complicated pedagogical and psychological process requiring a specific attitude and preparedness of the education professionals, school staff, parents, children and society as a whole.

scholarly journals Free Primary Education: Quality And Teachers Dilemma

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes W. Gathumbi
Keyword(s):  
Primary Education ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Education For All ◽  
Equitable Access ◽  
Free Primary Education ◽  
Significant Step ◽  
Policy Objectives

The current government’s overall goal within education remains to achieve Education for All (EFA) by 2015, with the top policy objectives being to ensure equitable access and improvement in quality and efficiency. In January 2003, the Kenya government made a significant step towards this vision by announcing Free Primary Education. While this was a laudable goal, it brought with it other problems. An additional 1.3 million children were enrolled in schools. The rapid increase in numbers has triggered widespread concern about the quality of education. This paper discusses the problems teachers have to grapple with, particularly in the absence of additional targeted resources to the education sector. The paper also makes recommendations.

IN SEARCH OF EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY FOR UKRAINE

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viсtor Ognevyuk
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
School Management ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
The World ◽  
Management School ◽  
Global Competitiveness Report

The article deals with the world rating of Ukrainian educational sphere according to The Global Competitiveness Report and UNESCO Science Report. It shows comparative indices of Ukraine in contrast to the other countries of these world ratings according to the “Quality of primary education”, “Penetration of primary education”, “Penetration of secondary education”, “Quality of secondary education”, “Quality of education in Sciences”, “Quality of school management”, “School access to the internet” and others. The article also defines strategic directions of reforming Ukrainian education system to improve its position in the world international ratings.

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN WITH SENSORY DISORDERS AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 1027-1030
Author(s):  
Gergana Todorova - Markova
Keyword(s):  
Sign Language ◽  
Mutual Influence ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Sensory Disorders ◽  
Communication Situations

The article is focused on the communication with children with special educational needs. The main topic is alternative communication with children with sensory disorders and multiple disabilities. It explores the phenomenon of communication, citing current definitions developed by a number of authors, which place the emphasis on different aspects of this complex and multilayered process, with a special focus on alternative communication with the groups of special needs children mentioned in the title.The issue is investigated from a special pedagogical and from a social perspective.The author is especially interested in the exploration of the multiple strata of communication (the universal, functional and specific levels). Apart from the different forms, contents, methods and means of communication (the last of which is most commonly discussed in Bulgaria), the article is focused primarily on the important methodological issues related to this topic.One of these basic questions of methodology is the attempt not to place at the center of this process its bi-directional nature, its algorithm or code (sign language, Braille writing system, etc.), but instead to focus on the personalities of those involved in the interaction, their initiative, relationship and goals manifested in different communication situations (mutual influence, emancipation and therapy). Particular emphasis is given to therapy, i.e. the way of influencing the communication behavior of children with sensory disorders and multiple disabilities. It is not viewed as a unilateral process (stimulus-response), but as an interactive one, based on mutual influence. The relationship between the communicators is of utmost significance.Communication is characterized by a number of specific features. Those can mostly be found in the specificity of the communication situations (for example the interactive situations in the following pairs of communicators: deaf – hard of hearing; deaf – deaf; deaf-blind – deaf, etc.), in the presence of an intermediary (for example a sign language interpreter) and above all in the personalities of the communicators. They change the quality of communication. It is for this reason, and not just because of the different means of communication, that this interaction is defined as “alternative”, or more precisely, it is an alternative to the communication of children without disabilities.Based on the analyzed information, the author formulates a number of inferences and recommendations. The main conclusion is the following:When discussing alternative communication with children with special educational needs, the focus should shift from the specific means of communication towards the equally socially important quality of the complex process of communication, which is centered on the personality of the handicapped child.

scholarly journals Parent's Participation in Improving the Quality of Education in Elementary Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Mifta Aulia ◽  
Abhanda Amra
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Learning Problems ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
School Construction ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Teachers And Parents

Parents’ low participation in improving the quality of education is an interesting topic of study. This research aims to obtain data on parents’ participation in improving the quality of infrastructure and learning process in elementary schools. This research used a qualitative descriptive approach. Sources of data were the principal, teachers, and parents. Data collection techniques were observation, interviews, and documentation. Based on the research findings, it can be discussed that parents already participated in improving educational infrastructure but not maximized. They donate funds and energy for school construction. While, in learning process, parents contribute to guide, to motivate, to supervise the children, and to facilitate all their needs in learning. Problems faced by parents in improving the quality of learning are lack of time in supervising the children to learn due to busy work and also the low level of parents’ education and income (education and economic factors).

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