Teachers' Attitudes Towards Inclusion in Turkey

Abstract

This study investigated the opinions of general education teachers working in public elementary schools in Turkey regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities into their classrooms and their willingness also to include students with more severe learning disabilities. One hundred and ninety-four general education teachers completed the survey package. The analysis of data showed that the sample possessed slightly negative attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities into regular education classrooms. Results also demonstated that only 35% of the teachers who responded to the survey were willing to include students with severe learning difficulties into their classrooms. However, most of the teachers were open to learning new skills in order to better accommodate students with disabilities by attending in-service education programmes and then using those new skills while working with students with disabilities. Most also expressed willingness to collaborate with the families of students with disabilities. Recommendations were made for modifying the current educational policies and practices of Turkey based on the current findings. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.