%0 Journal Article
%T The pros and cons of special education inclusion from the perceptions of teachers in the United Arab Emirates
%A Anati
%A Nisreen
%J International Journal of Research Studies in Education
%D 2013
%I Consortia Academia Publishing
%X The United Arab Emirates has always been keen to integrate students with special needs in mainstream classrooms. This study provides a basic background about the present types of programs and services offered within the UAE schools with respect to individuals with special needs. It also explores teachers¡¯ attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs in the UAE mainstream schools. Data obtained from a bilingual English-Arabic questionnaire which targeted about 30% of the teachers involved in teaching students with disabilities in UAE private and public inclusive schools indicated that the participant teachers were generally unsatisfied about inclusive education in their schools. Teachers¡¯ concern was due to a lack of financial support for resources and services; a lack of qualified special education professionals; a lack of proper training for teachers in mainstream classrooms, and a lack of knowledge about inclusion among senior-level administrators. Further, these teachers expressed common concerns such as teachers¡¯ time taken away from the rest of the students, class size, and safety of children with special needs. Such teachers¡¯ concerns might be justified as inclusion is relatively a new educational philosophy practiced in the country.
%K special education
%K inclusion
%K UAE special education
%K students with disabilities
%U http://www.consortiacademia.org/index.php/ijrse/article/view/94