The impact of teachers’ attitudes on the performance of students with disabilities: A case study of Group Scolaire Saint Dominique Gihara, in Kamonyi district.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the impact of teachers’ attitudes on the performance of students with disabilities: A case study of Group Scolaire Saint Dominique Gihara, in Kamonyi district. The study aimed at identifying the nature of the attitudes teachers hold towards inclusion of the students with disabilities, to establish whether or not teachers’ attitude affect students’ performance, assessing factors that influence teachers’ attitudes towards students with disabilities, possible modalities of improving teachers’ attitudes. The study was conducted on the population of 95 participants. The study used purposive sampling to select 45 teachers, 48 students and 2 head teachers. The study employed descriptive survey design. The research study used the following research instruments: questionnaire, interview guide to collect data from the respondents. The study employed descriptive statistics to analyze the data obtained. Quantitative data was analysed and presented using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, tables and percentages. Data collected from the questionnaires was coded and analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).Qualitative data collected from the interview guide and focus group discussion was presented in narrative form. The study found out that inclusion of the student with disability is desirable practice, it was established that the impact of teachers’ attitudes positively affected the performance of the students with disabilities, teachers’ attitude is influenced by factors like: training, motivation, expectation, insufficient teaching and learning resources. The study highlighted on some of the modalities of improving teachers’ attitude such as provision of adequate training in Inclusive and Special Needs Education, close collaboration with the parents of the students with disabilities so that teachers can get clear information regarding the children background and providing them with adequate teaching and learning resources.