Critical Review on Inclusive Education and its Development in Ethiopia (East Africa) - A Scenario

Abstract

In recent years, researchers have been interested in the concept and practice of Inclusive Education. This thematic review of literatures aimed to investigate a move towards inclusive education in Ethiopia. In this study, a total of 14 articles were examined and analysed using thematic literature review. The findings were presented and discussed based on emerged themes: positive changes towards inclusive education, challenges faced and implications were derived for the future implementations of inclusive education in Ethiopia. The report of this study shows that Ethiopia has started the movement towards inclusive education and it is at its infant stage. Although there are some positive changes towards inclusive education; there are a number of challenges needs to be addressed in the future through implementing the ratified conventions and policies, delivering short and long term training, applying Differentiated Instruction, creating clear administrative and career structure, allocating resources, improving inclusive service delivery, strengthening collaborations with stakeholders, and conducting research work to improve inclusive policies and practices.

In addition, reviewed articles showed numerous inclusive education resource centers were established in some regions including Addis Ababa City Administration, the SNNPR, and Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia and iterant teachers were assigned in the established inclusive resource centers (Šiška, et. al., 2019). Similarly, Sign Language Interpreters assigned for primary and high school deaf students (ESDP-V, 2015). Moreover, efforts were carried out in some regional TVET Bureaus/Agencies to promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in the vocational programs through affirmative action (Malle, et. al., 2015). In general, researchers from the Ethiopia and abroad have been also conducting research on Inclusive Education to support the realization of inclusive education in Ethiopia (Ministry of Education of Ethiopia, 2016)