Facilitating the engagement of differently-abled learners in inclusive schools in Gauteng Province: a case study

M.Ed.In response to South African policies, including White Paper No 6 on Inclusion of differently-abled learners, most regular schools have opened their doors to all learners in particular, learners who could have been previously placed in special schools are increasingly included in regular schools where they can experience quality education alongside their peers at schools located in their own neighborhoods. [For this study differently-abled learners will refer to those learners who are intellectually challenged]. They are to be provided with appropriate support necessary for enabling them to experience success. Despite this noble action, differently-abled learners continue to drop out of school before they reach Grade 10. Due to limited job opportunities; some of them resort to roaming in the streets, engaging in inappropriate and/or illegal activities in the community. Some fall victims to early pregnancy. These problems raise a concern with regard to differently-abled learner`s engagement in inclusive schools, in particular, whether these learners are engaged fully in inclusive schools or are they just there for window dressing? This paper reports on the findings of a qualitative case study for my Master’s degree in Inclusive Education. The research was undertaken in one of the school which is considered a model of inclusion, in District 3, Gauteng province, South Africa. A qualitative research design was adopted for the study so as to gain thick descriptions from teachers, differently-abled learners and their parent(s) or guardian(s). Data were collected by means of observations and two forms of interviews, namely individual and focus groups with learners and educators. An additional method of collecting data using diaries was also used with learners only. Ten [10] teachers were interviewed in groups of two and individually following observations on how they engage their differently-abled learners in the classroom. Ten [10] learners were interviewed individually and asked to complete diaries about four weeks. Data was coded and analysed using Creswell`s spiral method of analysing data and presented against a backdrop of literature and ecosystemic perspective of Bronfenbrenner.which guided the study. The findings are discussed under two broad headings, which are academic engagement and non-academic engagement. The findings revealed that through their frustations, teachers are trying hrd to come to terms with inclusion of differently-abled learners in inclusive schools and they do support them. Findings also revealed that teachers employ different strategies to engage in academic and non-academic situations inclusive schools. For this study, differently-abled learners will refer to learners who are intellectaully challenged only