Die insluiting van 'n leerder met downsindroom in 'n hoofstroomskool

Date
2005-04
Authors
Van der Merwe, Magriet
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to identify key aspects related to the promotion of the effective inclusion of a learner with Down Syndrome in a mainstream school and at the same time to give close attention to the implementation of the principles of inclusive education. The study was done over a period of four years in an Afrikaans medium primary school in a large rural town. The Educational Management and Development Centre (EMDC) in the region in which the school is situated is currently promoting and implementing inclusive education and the proposals set out in the Education White Paper 6. The findings of this study will be used to support and encourage this process (also at grassroots level) as well as the inclusion of learners with Down Syndrome. The study takes the form of a single case study and falls within an interprevistlconstructivist paradigm. Qualitative research methods were used to develop an understanding and an insight into the key aspects in order to promote the successful inclusion of learners with Down Syndrome. The primary methods of investigation were four individual interviews and one focus group interview with educators. The data generated in this manner was verified by means of recent literature, observations and available documents. During the process of data analysis the data were reduced to four themes relating to the inclusion of learners with Down Syndrome: attitudes and views with regard to inclusion, the address of specific challenges with which mainstream education is presented, specific strategies for promoting inclusion and the value that inclusion holds for mainstream education. The findings show that the principles of inclusive education and the educational practice associated with it do take into account the barriers to learning and development that learners with Down Syndrome experience: these barriers can be addressed within mainstream education. The key aspects attached to this depend mainly on the attitudes and views of the school and parent community, the address of the challenges such a learner presents, the use of specific educational and teaching strategies to promote inclusion and the acknowledgment of the value that inclusion holds for mainstream education.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem om die kernaspekte ter bevordering van effektiewe insluiting van 'n leerder met Downsindroom in 'n hoofstroomskool te identifiseer en terselfdertyd die implementering van die beginsels van inklusiewe onderwys onder die loep te neem. Die studie is oor 'n tydperk van vier jaar in 'n Afrikaansmedium laerskool op 'n groot plattelandse dorp onderneem. Die Onderwysbestuur- en Ontwikkelingsentrum (OBOS) van die streek waarbinne die betrokke skool geleë is, is besig om inklusiewe onderwys en die voorstelle soos in Onderwys Witskrif 6 uiteengesit aktief te bevorder en te implementeer. Die bevindinge van die studie sal aangewend word ter ondersteuning en bevordering van hierdie proses (ook op voetsoolvlak), sowel as die insluiting van ander leerders met Downsindroom. Die studie het die vorm van 'n indiwiduele gevallestudie aangeneem en is vanuit 'n interpretatiewe/konstruktiwistiese paradigma benader. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is aangewend ten einde begrip en insig te ontwikkelomtrent die kernaspekte ter bevordering van effektiewe insluiting van leerders met Downsindroom. Die primêre metode van ondersoek was vier indiwiduele onderhoude en een fokusgroep onderhoud met opvoeders. Die data wat op hierdie wyse gegenereer is, is aan die hand van resente literatuur, observasies en beskikbare dokumente geverifieer. Die proses van data-analise het die data tot vier temas met betrekking tot die insluiting van 'n leerder met Downsindroom gereduseer, naamlik houdings en sieninge ten opsigte van sodanige insluiting, die aanspreek van spesifieke uitdagings wat aan hoofstroomonderwys gestel word, spesifieke strategieë om insluiting te bevorder en die waarde wat insluiting tot hoofstroomonderwys toevoeg. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat die beginsels van inklusiewe onderwys en onderwyspraktyk daaraan verbonde, voorsiening maak dat die algemene hindernisse tot leer en onwikkeling wat leerders met Downsindroom ondervind effektief binne hoofstroomonderwys aangespreek kan word. Die kernaspekte hieraan verbonde berus hoofsaaklik op die houdings en sieninge van die skool- en ouergemeenskap, die aanspreek van die uitdagings wat so In leerder stel, die benutting van spesifieke onderwys- en onderrigstrategieë ter bevordering van insluiting en die erkenning van die waarde wat die insluiting van In leerder met Downsindroom tot hoofstroomonderwys toevoeg.
Description
Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Keywords
Children with disabilities -- Education (Primary) -- South Africa -- Case studies, Inclusive education -- South Africa -- Case studies, Down syndrome, Dissertations -- Education, Theses -- Education,
Citation