Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

4-2017

Abstract

This article addresses the inclusion of students with disabilities into the Education for All and Sustainable Development Goals agenda through a case study of Ethiopia, a country aiming to promote inclusive education amidst rapidly rising school enrolments. The article begins with a review of debates concerning inclusive education in the Global South and the strategy taken by Ethiopia. It then examines how inclusive education is currently being implemented drawing on recent fieldwork at rural and urban schools in Tigray province. Through interviews, participant observation, and focus groups, we found that teachers and school administrators are generally in favour of mainstreaming children with disabilities into ‘normal’ schools. However, insufficient training of teachers and itinerant teachers along with shortages of teaching materials and resources present major challenges to addressing special education needs.

Keywords

Africa, disabilities, Education for All, Ethiopia, Inclusive education, Special Needs Education, Sustainable Development Goals, universal basic education

Discipline

Special Education and Teaching

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

International Journal of Inclusive Education

Volume

21

Issue

4

First Page

347

Last Page

360

ISSN

1360-3116

Identifier

10.1080/13603116.2016.1197320

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge): SSH Titles

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2016.1197320

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