Academic achievement and self-concept of deaf and hard-of-hearing and hearing students transitioning from the first to second cycle of primary school in Ethiopia^*

* The schools involved in this study have received informed consents from the research participants, parents or guardians.

ABSTRACT

This study was done to examine the transition of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) and hearing students from the first cycle (Grade 4) to the second cycle (Grade 5) of primary education in Ethiopia. Academic achievement and self-concept were measured longitudinally with 103 DHH and hearing students. Participants were selected from three different settings (special schools, special classes and regular schools). Self-Description Questionnaire I (Marsh, H. W. 1990. Self-Description Questionnaire – I (SDQ I). Manual. MacArthur, NSW, Australia: University of Western Sydney) was used to measure the children’s self-concept. The results showed a decrease in the academic achievement and academic self-concept of DHH students who were in a special class (Grade 4) when they transferred to the mainstream (Grade 5), while the academic achievement and self-concept of the DHH students continuing in a special school remained stable. All three groups – DHH in the mainstream, DHH in the special school and hearing students – showed improvements in their social self-concept after the transition.

KEYWORDS:

• Deaf and hard of hearing
• inclusive education
• self-concept
• academic achievement
• mainstreaming
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to all students participated in this study for their cooperation and to their teachers who helped us in the practical arrangements when carrying out this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Mekonnen Mulat is a PhD student, Department of Education, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Elina Lehtomäki is a Professor, global education, University of Oulu

Hannu Savolainen is a Professor, Special Education, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

ORCID

Mekonnen Mulat http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4328-8828

Notes

* The schools involved in this study have received informed consents from the research participants, parents or guardians.