Challenges and prospects of implementing inclusive education practice at the College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University

Abstract

My study focused on examining the challenges and prospects of implementing the inclusive education practices at the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to identify the challenges encountered in implementing inclusive education Practices, to explore the coping strategies and mechanisms employed by stakeholders to address these challenges and to assess the prospects and opportunities for enhancing inclusive education practices at the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University. The study adapted a qualitative research approach taking a descriptive case study design. This approach was chosen due to its provision of room for collecting extensive first-hand data, which can be given verbally by the study participants. The content and thematic data analysis was based on the values that these participants perceived from their world. The study established that inaccessible infrastructure particular resulting from the design of the buildings in the college, nature of the wash rooms, shortage of the skilled manpower, limited knowledge of inclusive education among the academic staff and administrators and limited instructional materials for teaching students with disabilities were the major challenges to implementation of inclusive education practices. Although some participants reported a number of positive experiences, the coping mechanisms employed by the stakeholders included capacity building for academic staff through seminars and workshops, blended learning was also mentioned as one of the coping mechanisms. It was concluded that the future of inclusive education practices at CEES can be projected to be promising however, more planning for successful implementation of inclusive education practices at CEES is needed. Generally, the college is welcoming to all students though a number of modifications are still being put in place to cater for students with disabilities (SWDs)