J. Except. People 2013, 2(1):7-18

Overcoming the challenges of inclusive education in Nigeria: A focus on south-south geopolitical zone

James Eburikure Olayi
Department of Vocational & Special Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Inclusive education was the outcome of the Salamanca statement in 2008. Its focus was on addressing the failures and challenges of general and special education, especially the subject matter of integration and mainstreaming. The implementation of inclusive education was expected to act as a magic wand in addressing the deficiencies, challenges and hiccups in both general and special education. Inclusive education in Nigeria is confronted with multifarious and multifaceted difficulties and challenges which if left unaddressed will defeat the desired expected objective. This paper therefore undertook a survey of the very crucial challenges confronting the full, effective and functional implementation of inclusive education in Nigeria focusing on the South-South geopolitical zone with a view to addressing the inadequacies. To illicit responses, questionnaires were designed and administered on respondents from three states of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to analyze the data and the results discussed. From the findings, suggestions/appropriate recommendations were proffered toward enhancing efficient and effective implementation of the policy to benefit learners in Nigeria schools thus, improving on the overall set standard of education.

Keywords: Inclusive education, special education, integration, mainstreaming, Nigeria schools, standard of education

Published: December 11, 2013  Show citation

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Olayi, J.E. (2013). Overcoming the challenges of inclusive education in Nigeria: A focus on south-south geopolitical zone. Journal of Exceptional People, 2(3), 7-18
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