CHALLENGES AND PREPAREDNESS OF TEACHERS IN IMPLEMENTING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT VI AREA OF LAGOS STATE.

Abstract

This study examined the challenges and preparedness of teachers in implementing inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities in the Educational District VI Area of Lagos State. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Fifty teachers were sampled for the study using a purposive sampling technique. One self-designed and validated research instrument titled “Questionnaire on the Challenges and Preparedness of Teachers to Implement Inclusive Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities (QRPTIECID)” was used to collect data for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The results showed that the level of teachers’ preparedness to implement inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities in special schools is high. Meanwhile, the factors militating against implementing inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities in the Educational District VI Area of Lagos State include: lack of adequately trained inclusive education teachers, insufficient funding for inclusive education, lack of adequate knowledge of inclusion implementation, the inability of teachers to change from their conventional methods of teaching, inadequate infrastructure to support inclusive education, high cost of inclusive education learning materials, lack of adequate preparedness for inclusive education practices, and lack of government intervention on the issue of inclusive education. Hence, it was recommended, among others, that the Lagos State government should allocate more funds to inclusive education to ensure adequate funding for teacher training, infrastructure development, and provision of learning materials. In the same vein, all special education professionals should avail themselves of the opportunities to take professional courses in online platforms like UDEMY, Coursera, LinkedIn, edX, SkillShare, TES Institute, and SpecialEducationResources.com, among others.