Inclusive Education – Meaning, Definition, Characteristics and Principles
Inclusive Education means bringing all students of society under one umbrella. This education is a system where all types of children, even if a child has special needs in terms of physical, mental, intellectual, or any other aspect, have the opportunity to learn together.
Meaning of Inclusive Education
Inclusive education is a process that guides a child in utilizing their full potential in the school learning environment. It fosters accessibility to education for all children and cultivates empathy towards one another. In this system, children with disabilities and typically developing children study together in the same classroom. Special training for children with disabilities is not required in this approach. Children with disabilities are admitted directly to the school, and the teachers conduct the teaching and learning process.
Definition of Inclusive Education
To explain this concept more clearly, it is necessary to discuss the definitions provided by various individuals. These are mentioned below:
According to M. Manivannan (2001), “Inclusive education is the implementation of policy and process that allows all children to participate in all programmes. Policy means that disabled children should be accepted without any restrictions in all the educational programmes meant for other children. The process of inclusion denotes the way in the system, makes it welcoming to all.”
According to L. Soodak and E. Erwin, “Inclusive education happens when children with and without disabilities participate and learn together in the same classes………We also know that simply placing children with and without disabilities together does not produce positive outcomes. Inclusive education occurs when there is ongoing advocacy, planning, support and commitment.”
Based on the analysis of the definitions above, it can be said that inclusive education is an education system where all students with special needs are enrolled in regular classrooms and provided with special support services.
Characteristics of Inclusive Education
- Inclusive education welcomes the principle of non-discrimination in education.
- It ensures the right to education for all students.
- Bring all children under the same umbrella regardless of major obstacles.
- All children have the opportunity to learn.
The Principles of Inclusive Education
- Individualized Education System: Every child is unique in terms of their needs.
- Friendly and joyful education: The basic principle of this education system is friendly and joyful education. Students will spontaneously learn through the use of various interest pedagogies, and friendly teacher-student communication will develop.
- Life-centered education system: The main principle of this education system is to develop an education that is centered around life. Through this education, special students should be taught in such a way that they acquire practical knowledge alongside theoretical learning and can utilize it later in life.
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Bibliography- https://ncte.gov.in
- https://www.unicef.org
- https://oxford-review.com
