Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Teachers' Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 37 - 56

Abstract

Teachers’ attitudes play a key role to implement quality education for all. Hence, in the current study teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education (IE) and factors affecting them in the context of Turkey were explored with a mixed method. As a result, it was found out that teachers in Turkey have a narrow conceptualisation of inclusive education and mixed attitudes towards it. While teaching experience was found to be associated with attitudes, type and severity of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) was proved to be a significant predictor of embracing IE. Lack of knowledge, training and practical experience were identified as the most influential barriers against IE which also shape and inform teachers’ attitudes. The results indicate a need for a change at a societal level, professional teacher development for in-service as well as pre-service teachers, well-established partnership between stakeholders so that teachers can develop more positive attitudes and implement inclusive practices in their teaching contexts.

References

  • Arduin, S. (2015). A review of values that underpin the structure of an education system and its approach to disability and inclusion. Oxford Review of Education, 41(1), 105-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2015.1006614
  • Artan, İ. and Uyanık-Balat, G. (2003). Okul öncesi eğitimcilerinin entegrasyona ilişkin bilgi ve düşüncelerinin incelenmesi. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 11(1), 65-80.
  • Al-Zyoudi, M. (2006). Teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education in Jordanian schools. International Journal of Special Education, 21, 55-62.
  • Avramidis, E., P. Bayliss., &. Burden, R. (2000). Student teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs in the ordinary school. Teaching and Teacher Education, 16, 277–293. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/S0742-051X(99)00062-1
  • Avramidis, E., & Norwich, B. (2002). Teachers’ attitudes towards integration/inclusion: A review of the literature. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 17(2), 129-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250210129056
  • Bayar, M., & A. Üstün. (2017). The Investigation of Elementary School Teachers’ Emotions, Attitudes, and Concerns about Inclusive Education. Turkish Studies, 12(17), 73–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.11872
  • Beveridge, S. 2006. Children, families and schools: Developing partnerships for inclusive education. London: Routledge Falmer.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. 2013. Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners, SAGE.
  • Bryman, A. 2021. Social research methods (Fifth edition). Oxford University Press.
  • Boyle C., Topping, K., Jindal-Snape, D., & Norwich, B. 2012. The importance of peer-support for teaching staff when including children with special educational needs. School Psychology International. 33(2), 167-184. http://doi:10.1177/0143034311415783
  • Costello, S. & Boyle, C. 2013. Pre-service secondary teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(4), 129-143. http://doi:10.14221/ajte.2013v38n4.8
  • Demetriou, K. 2020. Special Educational Needs Categorisation Systems: To Be Labelled or Not?, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi:10.1080/1034912X.2020.1825641
  • Demir, M. K. & Açar, S. 2011. Kaynaştırma eğitimi konusunda tecrübeli sınıf öğretmenlerinin görüşleri. Kastamonu Education Journal, 19(3), 719-772.
  • Düşkün, Y. 2016. Inclusive education situation analysis in secondary education in Türkiye. İstanbul: Education Reform Initiative.
  • Eagly, A. H. & Chaiken, S. 1993. The psychology of attitudes. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
  • Erkılıç, M. & Durak, S. Tolerable and inclusive learning spaces: An evaluation of policies and specifications for physical environment that promote inclusion in Turkish primary schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17, 462-479. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2012.685333
  • Fives, H. & Buehl, M. M. 2008. What do teachers believe? Developing a framework for examining beliefs about teachers’ knowledge and ability. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 33, 134-156.
  • Florian, L. 2008. Inclusion: special or inclusive education: future trends. British Journal of Special Education, 35, 202-208. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8578.2008.00402.x
  • Forlin, C., Loreman, T., Sharma, U., & Earle, C. 2009. Demographic differences in changing pre-service teachers’ attitudes, sentiments and concerns about inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 13, 195–209. https://doi:10.1080/13603110701365356
  • Gök, G. & Erbaş, D. 2011. Early childhood teachers’ opinions about and suggestions for inclusion programs. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 3(1), 66-87.
  • Hodkinson, A. 2016. Key issues in special educational needs and inclusion. London: SAGE.
  • Kesik, F. & Beycioglu, K. 2022. Turkish education policies: inclusive or exclusionary? International Journal of Inclusive Education. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2022.2058625
  • Kuruyer, H. G., & Çakıroğlu, A. 2017. Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Özel Öğrenme Güçlüğü Olan Öğrencilerin Eğitsel Değerlendirme ve Eğitimsel Müdahale Sürecinde Görüş ve Uygulamaları. Journal of Turkish Studies, 12(28), 539-555. https://doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.12494
  • Loreman, T., Sharma, U. & Forlin, C. 2013. Do pre-service teachers feel ready to teach in inclusive classrooms? Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(1), 27-44. https://doi:10.14221/ajte.2013v38n1.10
  • McLeskey, J. Waldron, N. L., So, T., Swanson K. and Loveland, T. 2001. Perspectives of teachers toward inclusive school programs. Teacher Education and Special Education, 24(2), 108-115. https://doi:10.1177/088840640102400205
  • MEB, 2018. Kapsayıcı eğitim bağlamında okul öncesi ve sınıf öğretmenlerinin rehberlik becerilerinin geliştirilmesi projesi. https://oygm.meb.gov.tr/www/kapsayici-egitim-baglaminda-okul-oncesi-ve-sinif-ogretmenlerinin-rehberlik-becerilerinin-gelistirilmesi-projesi/icerik/1003
  • Nougaret, A. A., Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. 2005. Does teacher education produce better special education teachers? Exceptional Children, 71(3), 217–229. https://doi:10.1177/001440290507100301
  • Parasuram, K. 2006. Variables that affect teachers’ attitudes toward disability and inclusive education in Mumbai. India Disability Society, 21(3), 231–242. https://doi:10.1080/09687590600617352
  • Ramli, L. I. B. 2017. Attitudes of preschool teachers towards the introduction of inclusive education (IE) in Malaysian government preschools. Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds.
  • Rakap, S., & Kaczmarek, L. 2010. Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion in Türkiye. European Journal of Special Educational Needs. 25(1), 59–75. https://doi:10.1080/08856250903450848
  • Tuncay, A. A. & Kizilaslan, A. 2021. Pre-service teachers’ sentiments, attitudes and concerns about inclusive education in Türkiye, European Journal of Special Needs Education, 37(3), 1-14. https://doi:10.1080/08856257.2021.1873524
  • UNESCO. 1994. The Salamanca statement on principles, policy and practice in special needs education. Salamanca: UNESCO. [Accessed 25 July 2022]. Available from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000098427
  • UNESCO. 2016. Incheon declaration. Education 2030: Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. [Online]. [Accessed 15 June 2022]. Available from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000233813
  • UNESCO. 2000. Dakar framework for action, Education for all: Meeting our collective commitments (adopted by the World Education Forum). Dakar: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000121147 [Accessed 23 June 2022].
  • UNESCO. 2020. Inclusive education: All means all. Global Education Monitoring Report. Paris: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373724 [Accessed 5 June 2022].
  • UNICEF (2011). The right of children with disabilities to education: A rights-based approach to inclusive education. Geneva: UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.unicef.org/media/126506/file/UNICEF-Right-to-Education-Children-Disabilities-ENG.pdf. [Accessed 6 June 2022].
  • Saleem, M. A. A. 2017. Teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs in Jordanian ordinary schools. Ph.D thesis, University of Nottingham.
  • Saloviita, T. 2020. Teacher attitudes towards the inclusion of students with support needs. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 20(1), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12466
  • Sarı, T. Nayir F. & Kahraman, Ü. 2020. A study on inclusive education in Türkiye. Journal of Education and Future, 18, 69-82. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.642954
  • Savolainen, H., Malinen O. P. & Schwab, S. 2020. Teacher efficacy predicts teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion- A longitudinal cross-lagged analysis. International Journal of Inclusive Education. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2020.1752826
  • Sharma, U., Forlin, C., & Loreman, T. 2008. Impact of training on pre-service teachers’ attitudes and concerns about inclusive education and sentiments about persons with disabilities. Disability Society. 23(7), 773–785. http://doi:10.1080/09687590802469271
  • Stoiber, K. C. Gettinger, M. & Goetz, D. 1998. Exploring factors influencing parents’ and early childhood practitioners’ beliefs about inclusion. Early Childhood Quarterly, 13(1), 107-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2006(99)80028-3
  • Sucuoglu, B., S. Akalin, & E. Sazak-Pinar. 2010. The Effects of Classroom Management on the Behaviors of Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms in Türkiye. The Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 11(1), 64–74.
  • Wedell, M. 2009. Planning for educational change. NewYork: Continuum International Publishing Group.
  • Yılmaz, E. 2021. Yabancı dil öğretmenlerinin kapsayıcı eğitime yönelik tutumları ve özyeterliklerinin değerlendirilmesi. MA Thesis, Erciyes University.

Öğretmenlerin Kapsayıcı Eğitime Yönelik Tutumları

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 37 - 56

Abstract

Herkes için kaliteli eğitimin temin edilmesinde öğretmenlerin tutumları önemli bir rol oynar. Bu doğrultuda mevcut çalışmada öğretmenlerin kapsayıcı eğitime (KE) yönelik tutumları ve bu tutumları etkileyen faktörler Türkiye bağlamında karma araştırma yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, öğretmenlerin kapsayıcı eğitime dair dar anlayışa ve karışık tutumlara sahip olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Çalışma deneyimi ve öğretmen tutumları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunurken özel eğitim ihtiyacının türü ve şiddetinin öğretmenlerin kapsayıcı eğitime yönelik tutumlarının önemli bir yordayıcısı olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Aynı zamanda öğretmenlerin tutumlarını şekillendiren konuya ilişkin bilgi ve eğitim eksikliği ve özel eğitime ihtiyacı olan bireylerle birebir deneyim KE’in önündeki en büyük engeller olarak belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları öğretmenlerin KE’e yönelik olumlu tutum geliştirerek eğitim ortamlarında daha kapsayıcı bir yaklaşım benimsemeleri için toplumsal düzeyde bir algı değişikliğin, öğretmenler ve aday öğretmenler için profesyonel gelişim odaklı eğitimlerin, paydaşlar arasında sıkı iş birliği kurulmasının gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.

References

  • Arduin, S. (2015). A review of values that underpin the structure of an education system and its approach to disability and inclusion. Oxford Review of Education, 41(1), 105-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2015.1006614
  • Artan, İ. and Uyanık-Balat, G. (2003). Okul öncesi eğitimcilerinin entegrasyona ilişkin bilgi ve düşüncelerinin incelenmesi. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 11(1), 65-80.
  • Al-Zyoudi, M. (2006). Teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education in Jordanian schools. International Journal of Special Education, 21, 55-62.
  • Avramidis, E., P. Bayliss., &. Burden, R. (2000). Student teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs in the ordinary school. Teaching and Teacher Education, 16, 277–293. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/S0742-051X(99)00062-1
  • Avramidis, E., & Norwich, B. (2002). Teachers’ attitudes towards integration/inclusion: A review of the literature. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 17(2), 129-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250210129056
  • Bayar, M., & A. Üstün. (2017). The Investigation of Elementary School Teachers’ Emotions, Attitudes, and Concerns about Inclusive Education. Turkish Studies, 12(17), 73–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.11872
  • Beveridge, S. 2006. Children, families and schools: Developing partnerships for inclusive education. London: Routledge Falmer.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. 2013. Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners, SAGE.
  • Bryman, A. 2021. Social research methods (Fifth edition). Oxford University Press.
  • Boyle C., Topping, K., Jindal-Snape, D., & Norwich, B. 2012. The importance of peer-support for teaching staff when including children with special educational needs. School Psychology International. 33(2), 167-184. http://doi:10.1177/0143034311415783
  • Costello, S. & Boyle, C. 2013. Pre-service secondary teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(4), 129-143. http://doi:10.14221/ajte.2013v38n4.8
  • Demetriou, K. 2020. Special Educational Needs Categorisation Systems: To Be Labelled or Not?, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi:10.1080/1034912X.2020.1825641
  • Demir, M. K. & Açar, S. 2011. Kaynaştırma eğitimi konusunda tecrübeli sınıf öğretmenlerinin görüşleri. Kastamonu Education Journal, 19(3), 719-772.
  • Düşkün, Y. 2016. Inclusive education situation analysis in secondary education in Türkiye. İstanbul: Education Reform Initiative.
  • Eagly, A. H. & Chaiken, S. 1993. The psychology of attitudes. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
  • Erkılıç, M. & Durak, S. Tolerable and inclusive learning spaces: An evaluation of policies and specifications for physical environment that promote inclusion in Turkish primary schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17, 462-479. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2012.685333
  • Fives, H. & Buehl, M. M. 2008. What do teachers believe? Developing a framework for examining beliefs about teachers’ knowledge and ability. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 33, 134-156.
  • Florian, L. 2008. Inclusion: special or inclusive education: future trends. British Journal of Special Education, 35, 202-208. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8578.2008.00402.x
  • Forlin, C., Loreman, T., Sharma, U., & Earle, C. 2009. Demographic differences in changing pre-service teachers’ attitudes, sentiments and concerns about inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 13, 195–209. https://doi:10.1080/13603110701365356
  • Gök, G. & Erbaş, D. 2011. Early childhood teachers’ opinions about and suggestions for inclusion programs. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 3(1), 66-87.
  • Hodkinson, A. 2016. Key issues in special educational needs and inclusion. London: SAGE.
  • Kesik, F. & Beycioglu, K. 2022. Turkish education policies: inclusive or exclusionary? International Journal of Inclusive Education. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2022.2058625
  • Kuruyer, H. G., & Çakıroğlu, A. 2017. Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Özel Öğrenme Güçlüğü Olan Öğrencilerin Eğitsel Değerlendirme ve Eğitimsel Müdahale Sürecinde Görüş ve Uygulamaları. Journal of Turkish Studies, 12(28), 539-555. https://doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.12494
  • Loreman, T., Sharma, U. & Forlin, C. 2013. Do pre-service teachers feel ready to teach in inclusive classrooms? Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(1), 27-44. https://doi:10.14221/ajte.2013v38n1.10
  • McLeskey, J. Waldron, N. L., So, T., Swanson K. and Loveland, T. 2001. Perspectives of teachers toward inclusive school programs. Teacher Education and Special Education, 24(2), 108-115. https://doi:10.1177/088840640102400205
  • MEB, 2018. Kapsayıcı eğitim bağlamında okul öncesi ve sınıf öğretmenlerinin rehberlik becerilerinin geliştirilmesi projesi. https://oygm.meb.gov.tr/www/kapsayici-egitim-baglaminda-okul-oncesi-ve-sinif-ogretmenlerinin-rehberlik-becerilerinin-gelistirilmesi-projesi/icerik/1003
  • Nougaret, A. A., Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. 2005. Does teacher education produce better special education teachers? Exceptional Children, 71(3), 217–229. https://doi:10.1177/001440290507100301
  • Parasuram, K. 2006. Variables that affect teachers’ attitudes toward disability and inclusive education in Mumbai. India Disability Society, 21(3), 231–242. https://doi:10.1080/09687590600617352
  • Ramli, L. I. B. 2017. Attitudes of preschool teachers towards the introduction of inclusive education (IE) in Malaysian government preschools. Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds.
  • Rakap, S., & Kaczmarek, L. 2010. Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion in Türkiye. European Journal of Special Educational Needs. 25(1), 59–75. https://doi:10.1080/08856250903450848
  • Tuncay, A. A. & Kizilaslan, A. 2021. Pre-service teachers’ sentiments, attitudes and concerns about inclusive education in Türkiye, European Journal of Special Needs Education, 37(3), 1-14. https://doi:10.1080/08856257.2021.1873524
  • UNESCO. 1994. The Salamanca statement on principles, policy and practice in special needs education. Salamanca: UNESCO. [Accessed 25 July 2022]. Available from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000098427
  • UNESCO. 2016. Incheon declaration. Education 2030: Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. [Online]. [Accessed 15 June 2022]. Available from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000233813
  • UNESCO. 2000. Dakar framework for action, Education for all: Meeting our collective commitments (adopted by the World Education Forum). Dakar: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000121147 [Accessed 23 June 2022].
  • UNESCO. 2020. Inclusive education: All means all. Global Education Monitoring Report. Paris: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373724 [Accessed 5 June 2022].
  • UNICEF (2011). The right of children with disabilities to education: A rights-based approach to inclusive education. Geneva: UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.unicef.org/media/126506/file/UNICEF-Right-to-Education-Children-Disabilities-ENG.pdf. [Accessed 6 June 2022].
  • Saleem, M. A. A. 2017. Teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs in Jordanian ordinary schools. Ph.D thesis, University of Nottingham.
  • Saloviita, T. 2020. Teacher attitudes towards the inclusion of students with support needs. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 20(1), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12466
  • Sarı, T. Nayir F. & Kahraman, Ü. 2020. A study on inclusive education in Türkiye. Journal of Education and Future, 18, 69-82. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.642954
  • Savolainen, H., Malinen O. P. & Schwab, S. 2020. Teacher efficacy predicts teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion- A longitudinal cross-lagged analysis. International Journal of Inclusive Education. https://doi:10.1080/13603116.2020.1752826
  • Sharma, U., Forlin, C., & Loreman, T. 2008. Impact of training on pre-service teachers’ attitudes and concerns about inclusive education and sentiments about persons with disabilities. Disability Society. 23(7), 773–785. http://doi:10.1080/09687590802469271
  • Stoiber, K. C. Gettinger, M. & Goetz, D. 1998. Exploring factors influencing parents’ and early childhood practitioners’ beliefs about inclusion. Early Childhood Quarterly, 13(1), 107-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2006(99)80028-3
  • Sucuoglu, B., S. Akalin, & E. Sazak-Pinar. 2010. The Effects of Classroom Management on the Behaviors of Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms in Türkiye. The Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 11(1), 64–74.
  • Wedell, M. 2009. Planning for educational change. NewYork: Continuum International Publishing Group.
  • Yılmaz, E. 2021. Yabancı dil öğretmenlerinin kapsayıcı eğitime yönelik tutumları ve özyeterliklerinin değerlendirilmesi. MA Thesis, Erciyes University.
There are 45 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hasan Savaş 0000-0003-2145-6034

Yıldız İsaoğlu 0000-0002-7175-098X

Early Pub Date January 6, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date July 18, 2024
Acceptance Date December 12, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Savaş, H., & İsaoğlu, Y. (2025). Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education. Ahmet Keleşoğlu Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 7(1), 37-56.

28981289802580829733