Problems, expectations, and suggestions of elementary teachers regarding inclusion

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to display a detailed investigation of the views of the elementary teachers in the specification of defections in the inclusive education applications and in the evaluation of success. In accordance with this aim, in 16 different cities of Turkey, 23 teachers who have been working in schools where inclusive education is applied in relation with Ministry of Education and who have willingly participated to the study are interviewed. In the study, where descriptive method from among the qualitative research methods is used, inductive analysis of the research data gathered with semi-structured interviews is conducted through Nvivo 8 qualitative data analysis program. The findings indicate that elementary teachers generally have a negative opinion regarding the inclusive education applications in our country, that they are inadequate in this subject and need a great deal of sustenance particularly expert support, that they find pre-service and in-service training insufficient and experience problems due to the physical conditions of the classrooms and schools they work at. For the improvement of inclusive education applications, elementary teachers suggest the presence of separate teaching environments and part-time inclusive education, the organization of qualified and effective pre-service and in-service training and providing them material support.