Challenges Facing the Implementation of Inclusive Education Policy in Primary Schools and how these challenges can be addressed in Rarieda Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The education of children with disabilities in regular schools has become a world phenomenon. International community, the national governments and agencies have realized its importance and are therefore striving towards achieving education for all in an inclusive setting. United Nations (UN) and its agencies have played a key role in establishing policies frameworks and legislations to support inclusive education. The government of Kenya on the other hand has domesticated several international declarations and has formulated relevant policies that support inclusive education.

The purpose of the study is to establish challenges facing the implementation of inclusive education policy in public primary schools in Rarieda Sub County. The study also seeks to find out what the participants think can be done to address the identified challenges. The study was conducted in Rarieda Sub County one of the rural sub counties in Kenya. Three head teachers participated in this study as key informants. Qualitative approach was found relevant to investigate the research question and collect the intended data. Qualitative interviewing was the main method of obtaining data.

The results obtained indicated that several challenges impede the implementation of inclusive education policy in public pimary schools in Rarieda Sub County. These challenges included; lack of training /information to key stakeholders on issues of inclusion, resource related challenges, attitude and stigmatization towards children with disabilities, curriculum related challenges and policy related challenges. It was apparent from the study that lack of training to key stakeholders such as teachers, head teachers, parents, and district education officials derail the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular schools because they lack necessary knowledge and skills to handle such issues. The study found out that organizing for workshops and seminars to stakeholder and infusing both special and general education into one curriculum can respond to this challenge. In the same perspective, resource related challenges were attributed to poor infrastructures, lack of proper assessments and provision of specialized equipments required by these children. Sourcing for funds from well wishers, donor Non-governmental organization both from the national and international can help provide for the required resources.