A Dialogical Inquiry of Elementary School Teachers' Perspectives on Inclusive Education of Students with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND)

Overview & Synopsis

Internationally, many countries have developed inclusive education policies to offer quality education opportunities to all students. However, many teachers are still grappling with how to facilitate inclusive education in their general education schools. Challenges to inclusive education have pointed to teacher perspectives and beliefs about the practicability of inclusive education in general education classroom. This paper explored and discussed the perspectives of 70 Saudi comprehensive elementary school teachers who participated in a group online dialogical interview about their understanding of disability, inclusive education, and considers how inclusion might work in their comprehensive schools. The findings revealed mixed understandings of disability and inclusive education, and challenges that must be mitigated through dialogic professional learning to improve their practice.