Title
Teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion of blind or partially-sighted students in secondary schools in Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the attitudes of secondary school teachers towards students with blindness or partial sight in selected states in Nigeria.
Method: The authors utilised the modified version of a previous instrument to collect data from 306 secondary school teachers in Nigeria. Six basic questions were established to address: respondents’ attitudes towards inclusion; training acquired related to teaching; knowledge pertaining to policy and legislation; confidence levels to teach students with disabilities.; impact of geographical location; and differences in attitudes by the variables of subject(s) taught, school level taught, and years of teaching experience.
Results: Attitudes of participants were mixed but were generally positive. The level of training was low, with teachers showing limited knowledge of policy and legislation. A little over a quarter (27%) of them lacked confidence in teaching. There were differences in attitudes related to the geographical location of respondents. Those who taught at the senior secondary school level tended to have higher attitude scores on average than their counterparts at the junior secondary school level.
Conclusion and Limitations: This study used self-report measures, although observations and interviews could be additional ways to evaluate the attitudes of participants throughout the country. Moreover, in-service programmes may need to be implemented to increase teachers’ knowledge base and expand their experiences in line with established policies and legislation.
Department(s)
Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.370
Keywords
Africa, Disabilities, Inclusive education, Nigeria, Perceptions of practitioners, Secondary schools, Visual impairment
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Recommended Citation
Ajuwon, Paul M., George Chitiyo, Liziana N. Onuigbo, Adaka T. Ahon, and James E. Olayi. "Teachers' Attitudes towards Inclusion of Blind or Partially-Sighted Students in Secondary Schools in Nigeria." Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development 31, no. 2 (2020).
Journal Title
Disability, CBR and Inclusive Development
