Case Study of Inclusive Education in the Context of Kuwait: Barriers and Challenges

Proceedings of ‏The 2nd International Conference on New Approaches in Education

Year: 2020

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/2nd.icnaeducation.2020.03.150

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Case Study of Inclusive Education in the Context of Kuwait: Barriers and Challenges

Dr. Nouf Alenezi

 

ABSTRACT: 

The issue of inclusion of disabled students in mainstream schools is seen as a key issue for educational policy-makers worldwide. The argument for the inclusion of all disabled students in mainstream school’s rests on human rights, as is recognized in the ‘Salamanca Statement’ (UNISCO,1994). However, signatories to the Salamanca statement interpret ‘inclusion’ in different ways, leading to the exclusion of certain groups of students. The concept of inclusion, through a review of major issues and limitations in the current practice of inclusion is highlighted by this case study. This study found that the dominant conceptual model underpinning policy and practice in Kuwait is the “medical model” of disability. This understanding lends itself to practices of integration rather than inclusion.A multi-method data collection approach, using semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents, and critical discourse analysis of inclusion policy, has led to identifying what has been done, so far in practice, for inclusion, as well as identifying the main barriers of inclusive education in the context of Kuwait and the potential changes that need to be made.

Keywords: Inclusive Education, medical model, disability.