Zambian Student Teachers' Attitudes Toward Including Students With Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

Inclusive education has become a global trend in the provision of services for students with disabilities. In Zambia and other developing nations, international initiatives from UNESCO and other nongovernmental organizations have contributed to the consensus that all children have a right to a free and appropriate education and that all students with disabilities should be educated in inclusive settings. Thus, the Zambian government has issued policy statements to guide the implementation of inclusive education. This study surveyed University of Zambia students, examining their attitudes toward inclusion and their perceptions about supports and resource needs for successful implementation of inclusion. Questionnaires were distributed to 497 students at the University of Zambia. Four hundred eighty-four questionnaires were included in the analysis, resulting in a response rate of 97%. Results of the study indicated that, overall, University of Zambia students hold positive attitudes toward inclusion. Several variables were found to be related to students’ attitudes toward inclusion. However, students believed that the implementation of inclusion was hindered by the lack of adequate resources and supports from the government.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Special Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Muwana, Florence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ostrosky, Michaelene M.
• Gaffney, Janet S.
• Greene, Jennifer C.
• Monda-Amaya, Lisa E.

• Inclusive education
• students with disabilities
• attitude toward inclusion

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Florence Muwana

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31212

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/31212