Inclusive education project: Shire Highlands Education Division Malawi

Malawi has a challenge to make inclusive education a reality due to limited resources - insufficient funding, and environmental and attitudinal barriers.

The main aim of this study was to conduct a situational analysis of mainstream education systems for the inclusion of learners with Special Educational Needs in 20 selected schools in the Shire Highlands Education Division of Malawi.

The study revealed a number of challenges that teachers, learners with and without disabilities are facing in schools. These challenges include:

• lack of knowledge and additional skills in teaching learners with disabilities 
• inadequate teaching and learning resources 
• inadequate communication skills by teachers and learners in schools 
• frequent absenteeism from school by learners 
• negative attitudes by the teachers and the community towards learners with disabilities 
• lack of interest and commitment towards education by learners 
• inaccessible school infrastructure 
• lack of assistive devices.
  

The baseline study team has come up with the following recommendations based on the above findings:

•  need for sensitisation of parents, teachers, learners and school management committees on disability issues at school and village levels
• provide in-service training to all mainstream teachers and primary education advisors on inclusive education
• rehabilitate and adapt the existing school classrooms, sanitary and recreation facilities for accessibility
• provide different types of assistive devices to assist learners with mobility, hearing, and communication, sight, writing and sitting problems.