‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi
Background: Globally, children with disabilities are often excluded from and within schools. Objectives: This study explored experiences of inclusion in education amongst children with disabilities in Malawi. The enquiry focused on the perspectives of children and their caregivers on barriers and e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-11-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/981 |
| _version_ | 1811210582098968576 |
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| author | Lena M. Banks Xanthe Hunt Khumbo Kalua Providence Nindi Maria Zuurmond Tom Shakespeare |
| author_facet | Lena M. Banks Xanthe Hunt Khumbo Kalua Providence Nindi Maria Zuurmond Tom Shakespeare |
| author_sort | Lena M. Banks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Globally, children with disabilities are often excluded from and within schools.
Objectives: This study explored experiences of inclusion in education amongst children with disabilities in Malawi. The enquiry focused on the perspectives of children and their caregivers on barriers and enablers of inclusion.
Method: Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 37 children with disabilities, 61 caregivers and 13 teachers from Ntcheu and Mangochi districts and analysed thematically using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a framework.
Results: Overall, this research study found that children with disabilities face persistent and systemic barriers to attending, progressing and learning in school.
Conclusion: School outcomes were influenced by a range of impairment-related, personal and environmental factors, including poor health, household poverty, attitudes of caregivers, teachers, peers and children themselves and school resources for inclusive education.
Contribution: These findings carry implications for policy and planning in inclusive education and other services to support the health and well-being of children with disabilities in Malawi. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:58:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae1a3ea0201e4723a1e032da0f19e90f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:58:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae1a3ea0201e4723a1e032da0f19e90f2022-12-22T03:47:04ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202022-11-01110e1e1210.4102/ajod.v11i0.981316‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural MalawiLena M. Banks0Xanthe Hunt1Khumbo Kalua2Providence Nindi3Maria Zuurmond4Tom Shakespeare5International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, LondonDepartment of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Stellenbosch University, BellvilleLions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO), BlantyreLions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO), BlantyreInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, LondonInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, LondonBackground: Globally, children with disabilities are often excluded from and within schools. Objectives: This study explored experiences of inclusion in education amongst children with disabilities in Malawi. The enquiry focused on the perspectives of children and their caregivers on barriers and enablers of inclusion. Method: Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 37 children with disabilities, 61 caregivers and 13 teachers from Ntcheu and Mangochi districts and analysed thematically using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a framework. Results: Overall, this research study found that children with disabilities face persistent and systemic barriers to attending, progressing and learning in school. Conclusion: School outcomes were influenced by a range of impairment-related, personal and environmental factors, including poor health, household poverty, attitudes of caregivers, teachers, peers and children themselves and school resources for inclusive education. Contribution: These findings carry implications for policy and planning in inclusive education and other services to support the health and well-being of children with disabilities in Malawi.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/981inclusive educationmalawiexclusiondisabilityschool. |
| spellingShingle | Lena M. Banks Xanthe Hunt Khumbo Kalua Providence Nindi Maria Zuurmond Tom Shakespeare ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi African Journal of Disability inclusive education malawi exclusion disability school. |
| title | ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi |
| title_full | ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi |
| title_fullStr | ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi |
| title_short | ‘I might be lucky and go back to school’: Factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural Malawi |
| title_sort | i might be lucky and go back to school factors affecting inclusion in education for children with disabilities in rural malawi |
| topic | inclusive education malawi exclusion disability school. |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/981 |
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