The Inclusive Movement: Indicators of Some Selected Faculties of the University of Education Winneba-Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

The University of Education Winneba has been in an autonomous existence for the past decade, with the Department of Special Education as the sole trainer of teachers for persons with special needs in Ghana. The Faculties of Applied Linguistics and Sciences share a common compound with the Department of Special Education at the South Campus of the University. Since the Inclusion Movement is geared towards ALL inclusiveness, everyone must be informed, equipped and involved; a step towards social theory of inclusion. This study is a survey that sampled views from Administrators and Lecturers who are key personnel in the academic growth of students on campus. A fourteen Likert-scale questionnaire item was used in the collection of data from fifty-four respondents who were purposively and conveniently sampled. The Departments under study were conveniently sampled since they were closer to the researcher and the special needs resource center. The results revealed amongst others that most of the respondents had the knowledge of inclusive education, and that it needed specialized personnel to offer that type of education. Though Ghana had signed the treaty for inclusive education since fifteen years ago, issues about its implementation in terms of policy were delayed. Based on the findings it is recommended that more personnel need to be trained in inclusive education and also that it requires policy direction.