Attitudes and concerns of pre-service teachers regarding inclusion of students with disabilities into regular schools in Pune, India

Abstract

Attitudes and concerns of pre-service teachers regarding implementation of inclusive education were examined. The participants consisted of 480 pre-service teachers enrolled in a one year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program at Pune University, in the state of Maharashtra. The results of the study showed that participants had somewhat negative attitudes and a moderate degree of concern regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities in their classes. Participants with higher level of education (i.e. postgraduate degrees) were found to have significantly more positive attitudes compared to their counterparts. Perceived level of confidence in teaching students with disabilities was also associated with lower degree of concerns amongst participants. The results are discussed with possible implications for university educators and policy makers.

Keywords:

• attitude
• inclusion
• India
• pre-service teachers