How inclusive education is understood by principals of independent schools

Bibliographic Data

ID12578070
AuthorsJennifer Glenda Gous (,), Irma Eloff (0000-0001-8306-3979, ,), Melanie Carmen Moen (0000-0001-9075-6642, ,, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume18
Issue5
Pages535-552
Publication date2013-06-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Inclusive Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1360-3116 • E-ISSN: 1464-5173
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13603116.2013.802024
OpenAlexW1980801713
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited21

Inclusive education has become a practice that has been adopted by many schools across the globe and most usually in first-world countries. As a whole-school system, it occurs less frequently in developing countries including South Africa which unlike many developing countries has a sound infrastructure and many excellent schools in both the state and the independent sectors. Education White Paper 6: Special education: Building an inclusive education and training system was published in 2001 with the express intention of developing an inclusive education system in South Africa. Some South African independent schools have successfully implemented valuable forms of inclusion in their schools and this is the phenomenon that was studied. This study reveals various aspects of the inclusive process including the pivotal role that principals play in the transformation process of which inclusive education is the harbinger. It also analyses why principals choose to embrace a paradigm that on the surface is uncomfortable and not an easy option. We used narrative research as methodology for this qualitative research. The basic tenet was that inclusion leads to belonging and excellence in education. The major findings were that inclusion to most principals was about taking action, humanity and emotion. The principals also described inclusion as personal and pragmatic. The implications for action are of interest not only to principals, but to anyone who is seriously interested in innovative and more humane forms of anti-oppressive education

Action (physics · Excellence · Globe · Inclusion (mineral · Mainstreaming · Narrative · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Special education · Collaborative Teaching and Inclusion · Disability Education and Employment · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

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