Abstract

There is growing awareness and desire to implement inclusive education in Pakistan. This quantitative study tried to assess the level of implementation of inclusive practices in public and private sector schools through the voices of headteachers and teachers. The status of implementation is explored by using a five-point Likert type scale developed on the framework of Index of Inclusion (Booth & Ainscow, 2002) and Framework of Indicators developed by Kyriazopoulou & Weber (2009). The sample of the study comprised 51 inclusive schools representing four inclusive models. Headteachers and teachers engaged in implementation were asked to unfold their experiences and voices as the evidence for successful inclusivity in schools reflected through school culture. In its quantitative part, the study found that majority of the respondents had a positive opinion regarding the implementation of inclusive enabling indicators pertaining to school culture. Overall the study found that all these 51 inclusive schools are moving forward to achieve inclusivity in schools. This study recommended that a standard definition of inclusive education and a viable model for the implementation of inclusivity in schools.

Key Words

School Development, Index of Inclusion, Implementation of Inclusive Practice, School Culture, School Policies, and School Practices

Introduction

Inclusive education is based on the notions of social justice and is recognized as the most equitable means to include all students regardless of their abilities, race, gender, and socio-economic status in mainstream schools. Inclusion is built around the individual student’s needs and embraces the principle of diversity - all learners naturally exhibit variation in their abilities, interests, and needs. The educational philosophy behind inclusion originated from the worldwide discourse on United Nation's influential agenda of Education for All (EFA) (Jomtien, 1990), which viewed inclusive education as a dynamic approach of responding positively to pupil diversity and of seeing individual differences not as problems, but as opportunities for enriching learning' (UNESCO, 2005, p. 12). Many countries in the world, including Pakistan, became signatories to many international statements and legislation on educational rights, and endorsed United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children and Persons with Disabilities (UNCRCD, 1990), UNESCO's Salamanca Statement (,1994) and Dakar Framework of Action for achieving the goal of Education for All (UNESCO, 2000). To accelerate progress toward Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Pakistani governments introduced several national educational policies and educational sector reforms, but the official decision of introducing 'inclusive education and support services for students with disabilities was enacted only in recent years (National Education Policy, NEP, 2009). The paradigm shift from segregation to inclusion in Pakistan has been slow despite the Pakistani government's endorsements and ratifications of international conventions. Although literature in the Pakistani context showed the recent emergence of research interests, there is still a severe dearth of published research that explored the implementation status of inclusive education from implementers' point of view. Few researchers employed quantitative research methods (Farooq, 2012; Pasha, 2012, Anwer & Sulman, 2012; Shaukat, 2013), which focused on the attitudes of school principals, teachers, students, and parents toward inclusive education, and attitudinal and structural barriers in mainstream schools. Even less research exists which utilized qualitative and mixed-methods research to examine attitudes and opinions of regular, special teachers and administrators toward inclusive education (Haider, 2008; Fazal, 2012; Hassan, Parveen & Nisa, 2010; Hassan, Farooq & Parveen, 2012). Some pioneering attempts at pilot testing of small-scale inclusive projects were also made by international agencies, which documented evidence of good inclusive practices in urban, private schools in Pakistan (UNICEF, 2003). However, due to the restricted scope of these studies, the efforts for nationwide implementation of inclusion are severely limited (Hameed & Fazil, 2005).

This study built upon already nurturing academic discourse regarding the need for an educational system that is sensitive to the learning diversities and is willing to undergo transformations for enhancing its capacity to be responsive to learning diversities. The primary focus of this research was to understand the implementation of inclusive education in terms of evidence for the presence of inclusivity enablers within schools relating to culture. This evidence of inclusive-enablers was sought through the headteachers and teachers involved in implementing inclusive education at the school level.

Research reiterates that mainstream schools have the inherent capacity, teaching, and financial resources to undergo progressive transformation to accommodate students with disabilities (Ainscow, 2005; Clark et al., 1995). This also underlines the foundational principle for inclusive education. According to Villa & Thousand (1995), the differential line between an inclusive and non-inclusive school is not merely of a commitment towards inclusion but the establishment of structural and educational practices to accommodate for diverse students' needs.

The researchers noted that successful inclusive education practice necessitates complex interaction of internal (within school) and external conditions and environments.

Peters has identified a division of inclusive education system in "Northern" and "Southern (Peters, 2003). Multiple large studies have identified the human - resource focus of these systems in "Northern" systems, and it has been calculated that appropriately 80% of the budget allocations are directed towards human resource deployment & development (Markina et al., 2020). These studies indicate the following key features of the inclusive education system: (i) teachers are required to improve their qualification in curriculum development, pedagogy, teaching strategies, and adaptation of students; (ii) learning in the exam rooms is activity-based; (iii) ongoing training of all the stakeholders for sustainable continuation of educational practices and (iv) participation of all the stakeholders in all kinds of decision making vis-à-vis inclusive participation. Contrarily the practices of inclusive education in the south (South Asia included) exhibited four characters: (i) resources; (ii) processes; (iii) outcomes; and (iv) external factors and circumstances in which inclusive education is situated. These inclusive practices not only consider external factors as key determinants of inclusive education but also consider them to be an integral part of the development of an inclusive education system at the school as well as community level.

The most important areas of input resources include: (i) access and support of students; (ii) motivation of students to be part of the educational system; (iii) poverty and its associated issues of exclusion and drops out; (iv) attitudinal bias towards disability & students with disabilities and (v) flexible, accessible, accommodated and functional educational program for providing life skills to the students with disabilities. It has also been noted that focal points in terms of the processes are; (i) providing an accessible educational climate, (ii) co-operation amongst the stakeholders, and (iii) coordinated support structure. The results of inclusive education are a combination of human rights, the decentralized approach towards inclusive education, partnership, and teacher training (Cameron & Valentine, 2001; Markina et. al., 2020).

This study looks for evidence of inclusive education vis-à-vis school-wide transformation, including school leadership, school and family collaboration, school staff collaboration, and other inclusivity-enablers through the lens of experiences and understanding of teachers and headteachers. Using these data points and insights gathered from these experiences and consciousness of the key stake-holders, this study would pave a way for an academic discourse for conceptualizing inclusive education as an alternative and viable educational practice so that inclusive school development as an ideology and practice is aligned to the correct trajectories of theory and practice as per successful international practices.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this research study are to:

1.         Explore evidences for implementation of inclusive-culture enablers at the school level in schools claiming to practice inclusive education.

Research Methods

The research study employed a quantitative method approach. A five-point Likert type scale was used for recording responses of headteachers of 51 secondary level schools regarding their experiences and sense of availability of inclusive-enablers relating to inclusive school culture, policies, and practices. The research instrument was developed employing the Index of Inclusion (Booth & Ainscow, 2002) and Framework of Indicators (Kyriazopoulou & Weber, 2009).

Reliability and Validity of the Instrument

The validity of the instrument was performed by a panel of experts. They were asked to assess each item on the basis of its relevance and wording. The instrument was revised in order to address the observations of the experts. For assessment of the reliability of the instrument, Cronbach Alpha was used. The Cronbach’s value of .97 indicated that the instrument was highly reliable for the collection of data for this study.

Results and Findings

Descriptive statistics of the current study showed that the mean age of headteachers and teachers was M=38.39 and F=35.30, respectively. A total of 61% of study participants were male, and 39% were female. Majority of participants (79.6%) had more than five years of teaching experience. The academic level of 59.9% of participants was M.A/M.Sc. Followed by 28% with B.A/B.Sc. A total of 78.3% of participants had received inclusive training, while 21.7% didn't receive such training. In the sample, 32.5% were headteachers, and 67.5% were teachers. Approximately 23.5% of the participants represented Punjab Inclusive Education Project, 47.1% of schools represented Ghazali Education Trust Inclusive Model, 17.6% represented the Inclusive Voucher Scheme, and 11.8% belonged to Amin Maktab Inclusive Model. A total of 70.6% of schools were located in rural areas, and 29.4% were based in urban areas.

Out of these schools, 23.5% of schools were public, 58.8% were private, and 17.6% were private schools financed by public funding. The mean number of pupils studying in high schools was M=114.81, in primary schools M=191.59, and in elementary schools M= 124.85. Almost 80.4% of schools enrolled students with intellectual disabilities, 70.6% to students with a physical disability, whereas 66.7% of schools enrolled students with visual impairment, 56.9% of schools to students with hearing impairment, 51.0% to students with language disorders, 27.5% to students with emotional behavior disturbances,13.7%  to students with learning disability and 9.8% to students pervasive development disorders  (Table 1).

Chi-square test of association was conducted to find an association between study variables. Frequency and percentages of school ownership, location, and inclusive model are varied in the next analyses because of the selection of one headteacher and four teachers from each school. Findings indicated that Punjab project for inclusive mode was implemented in all of the public schools. Majority of the private schools (48) implemented Ghazali Education Trust Inclusive Model, 12 private schools implemented Amin Maktab Inclusive Model, 1 of the private schools implemented Punjab Inclusive Education Project, and 1 school implemented  Inclusive Voucher Scheme. All of the privately-financed public education schools implemented Inclusive Voucher Scheme.

Table 1. Distribution of disabilities

The distribution of disability indicated a balanced spread of disabilities commonly found in the population. Intellectually challenged students dominate total enrolled children in 51 inclusive schools.

The study further revealed that the majority of the headteachers (70.6%) included in the study were from schools located in rural areas; likewise, most teachers (66%) were from schools located in rural areas. A total of 29.4% of headteachers were from schools located in urban areas, and 34% of teachers were from schools located in urban areas.

Table 2. Representation of Headteachers and Teachers in Urban and Rural Areas

It was also found that the majority of headteachers (62.7%) were from private schools, whereas the majority of the teachers (36.8 %) were from private schools financed by the government.

School Culture

Table 3 indicates the responses of participants regarding inclusive enabling school climatic practices. The majority of the participants indicated that inclusive enabling climatic enablers were either fully or substantially implemented in their respective schools: for example, 87% of the respondents maintained that their respective schools' mission statement

Table 3. Implementation of Inclusive Enabling School-climate Related Practices

reflected that all children including children with disability could learn in mainstream schools; 93% of the respondents maintained that in their respective schools’ all kinds of students were made to feel welcome; 89% of the respondents maintained that their respective schools’ did not discriminate students on the basis of their disabilities; 90% of the respondents maintained that their respective schools’ had made conscious efforts to minimize all forms of discrimination met out to the students with disabilities; 90% of the respondents maintained that in their respective schools’ all kinds of students were equally valued; 76% of the respondents maintained that their respective schools had high educational and behavioral expectations from the students having learning and behavioral disabilities; 87% of the respondents maintained that the teachers, other allied staff and students including students with disabilities treated each other with respect and honor; 95% of the respondents maintained that all students including students with disabilities felt safe and secured in the school premises; 92% of the respondents maintained that all students including students with disabilities manifested a sense of ownership of their schools; 98% of the respondents maintained that students with disabilities felt a strong sense of identification and belongingness towards their schools; and 90% of the respondents maintained that all teachers and other allied staff shared with each the responsibility of interaction with the students

having learning disabilities.

Table 4 indicates the responses of participants regarding the availability of inclusive enabling leadership practices. The majority of the participants indicated that inclusive enabling leadership practices were either fully or substantially implemented in their respective schools. For example:  98% of the respondents maintained that headteachers had a positive attitude towards inclusive education; 66% of the respondents maintained that their respective headteachers had an updated knowledge of various inclusive strategies; 63% of the respondents maintained that the headteachers provided all kinds of resources for implementing inclusive education;  85% of the respondents maintained that their respective headteachers had facilitated the collaborative strategies; 90% of the respondents maintained that the headteachers monitored implementation of collaborative strategies in the schools; 85% of the respondents maintained that their respective headteachers ensured regular planning of collaborative strategies by the teachers in the schools;  80% of the respondents maintained that their respective headteachers used teachers feed-back to identify training needs for teachers and other allied staff; 79% of the respondents maintained that their respective headteachers used achievements of all kinds of students including students with disabilities to identify training needs for teachers and other allied staff.

Table 4. Implementation of School-leadership Related Practices

Additionally, it also brought out that, and 65% of the respondents held that their respective headteachers offered incentives to teachers who showed positive progress in implementing inclusion.

Table 5 indicates the responses of participants regarding the availability of inclusive enabling team collaboration amongst school staff for ensuring participation of all kinds of students. The majority of the participants indicated that inclusive team collaboration enablers were either fully or substantially implemented in their respective schools. For example: 64% of the respondents held that all teachers of their respective schools supported all kinds of students including students with disabilities; 54% of the respondents held that all teachers and other allied staff including psychologist and physiotherapist etc. of their respective schools worked well together and with the head teachers of their respective schools; 62% of the respondents held that all teachers and other allied staff including psychologist and physiotherapist etc. collaborated with each other for implementing inclusive education; 78% of the respondents maintained that the knowledge of parents about their children’s educational and behavioral needs was valued in their respective schools; 69% of the respondents held that the knowledge of parents about their children’s educational and behavioral needs was used by the teachers in the class; 53% of the respondents held that the teachers of their respective schools used achievements of the students with learning disabilities for adapting curriculum according to their needs;  and 51% of the respondents held that all teachers used achievements of the students with learning disabilities for differentiating teaching strategies including mode of presentation and methods of response. However, contrastingly, majority of the participants indicated a lack of full or substantial evidence of implementation of team collaboration inclusive enablers in various areas. For example, 54% of the respondents held that all teachers did not possess the commitment to teach all kinds of students, including students with disabilities; 61% of the respondents maintained that all teachers of their respective schools did not possess skills needed to teach all kinds of students including students with disabilities.

Table 5. Implementation of Team Collaboration Related Practices

Similarly, table 5 indicates that 69% of the respondents held that special education staff did not work within the general education classroom in their respective schools.

Table 6. Implementation of Family-school Partnership Related Practices

Table 6 indicates the responses of participants regarding the availability of inclusive enabling family-school partnership practices. The majority of the participants indicated that inclusive enabling family-school partnership practices were either fully or substantially implemented in their respective schools. For example: 43% of the respondents held that parents' educational priorities for disabled children were reflected in the student's IEP; 64% of the respondents held that parents' behavioral priorities for disabled children were reflected in the student's IEP; 64% of the respondents held that parents of the children of their respective schools acknowledged the teachers’ efforts for their children with disabilities; 50% of the respondents held that parents of the special needs children attended meetings regarding academic progress and issues with the school teacher on a regular basis;  and 62% of the respondents indicated that parents gave input about their disabled child’s social behavior to the teachers. Contrastingly, however, majority of the participants indicated that family-school partnership was missing fully or partially in various areas. For example: 56% of the respondents maintained that parents did not receive regular information about their child’s social behavior from school and 48% of the respondents held that parents of the special needs students did not help their disabled children to reinforce the academic lessons and behavioral skills on daily basis.

Conclusion

Based on the findings in the contexts of implementation status of inclusive education and the way key stakeholders find and interpret it, the research study offers several implications for implementing and improvising inclusive education for students with disabilities and SEN. Firstly, there is a significant need for schools to reform their existing school policies, which focus on individualizations. Such decisions should be made on a 'case-by-case' basis and reviewed by a panel of stakeholders within the school community. Efforts should be directed to regularly include mainstream teachers, parents, and school psychologist during placement decisions. Secondly, special support services such as special needs assistants and special needs coordinators should be a regular part of special service units in schools which include students with disabilities. Thirdly, all staff, including administrators and principals, should participate in continuing professional development programs related to inclusive education, special educational needs, and pedagogical practices. Such programs should address four important considerations based on inclusive principles: (1) strong knowledge and practical understanding of inclusive education including philosophical tenets of inclusion, 3) knowledge and understanding about various disabilities and SEN, (3) assessment strategies and analysis of individual students' special needs to devise support services, and (4) evidence-based teaching and learning strategies to achieve academic, behavioral and social outcomes of students with disabilities and SEN. Additionally, such trainings should consider practical strategies to document individualized education plans (IEP) for students with special needs, for modifications and adaptations in curriculum and learning materials. Finally, the study implicates a strong necessity for all schools to organize and keep written records of accommodations and adaptations provided to students with special needs. Additionally, it is also very important that the views of the teachers and headteachers regarding "what is inclusive education?", "what constitutes as an evidence of an inclusive enabler?" and "how an evidence for existence or absence is to be interpreted by school level administration for taking steps to improve the situation?" Given the level of implementation of inclusive education in Pakistan and conceptual and practical implications of inclusive education, it is the need of the hour that academicians take on this dialogue and come up with practical and local solutions.