Botswana teachers: competencies perceived as important for inclusive education

ABSTRACT

The implementation of inclusive education continues to pose challenges to teachers world-wide and Botswana is no exception. This study aimed to explore the teaching competencies general education teachers in Botswana primary schools perceived as important to their teaching in inclusive classrooms. Using a quantitative research approach, 116 general education primary school teachers completed a 14-Item questionnaire titled Perceived Competencies for Inclusive Teaching Scale, and an open-ended question about the supportive resources they required to be effective in their classrooms. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-tests were used to analyse the data. The results of this study showed that participants identified adaptive instructional competencies (including setting curricula goals, modifying learning content and teaching to the different learning styles of students) as most important. Human resources (teacher aides, specialist teachers,) followed by material resources were seen to be key support resources required for them to be able to implement IE. This study could be used as a baseline for future research on key competencies and resources for primary school teachers for inclusive education.

KEYWORDS:

• Botswana
• inclusive education
• teachers’ competencies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmed Bawa Kuyini

Dr Ahmed Bawa Kuyini is currently engaged as Associate Professor of Social Work in the College of Global, Urban & Social Studies at the RMIT University, Melbourne Australia. He is the Program Manager of Master of Social Work and research Special /InclusiveEducation, child rights including foster care, refugees and migration.

Thenjiwe Emily Major

Dr. Thenjiwie, E. Major is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Botswana. I currently, teach integrated foundation of education courses (Philosophy, Sociology, History of Education) to undergraduate and graduate courses. I also co-teach qualitative research to graduate students. Presently, I am involved in a number of research projects.

Boitumelo Mangope

Dr. Boitumelo Mangope is a Senior lecturer in Special Education in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Botswana. Her research interests include inclusive education in the area of learners with IDD. She has been leading research in relation to transitions for students with IDD, pastoral guidance & counselling and stigma associated HIV/AIDS among adolescents.

Mohammed Alhassan

Dr. Mohammed Awal Alhassan is a lecturer of English and Science at Adult Education in the Ski Municipality in Norway. He previous taught Geography and Social Science at the Teachers Training College in Ghana and in Lesotho. His research interests include minority education, special education and inclusive education in Ghana and Norway.