Inclusive Education on a National Level: focus on Jamaica
According to Bergsma, "inclusive education is an education system that includes a large diversity of students, and diversifies education to such an extent that it can meet the individual learning needs of all students. It means that all the students, including the ones who are disabled or at risk, receive all their instruction in a general education setting and, if necessary, support services come to the student; the student does not go to the support service." Jamaica in the past has focused mainly on the practice of mainstreaming as part of the inclusion process. Mainstreaming is considered the practice of placing students with disabilities in classes and schools with their non-disabled peers. These placements can be for all or part of the day and for all or a few subjects. However, it is assumed that special education retains the main and primary responsibility for students with disabilities (Hallahan and Kaufman 1997). In recent years inclusion practices have changed though. Nowadays, the focus has shifted towards the idea that all children must have equal opportunities regardless of disability, social background or in general differences, i.e. towards an inclusive education model.
Inclusive education engages the learning needs of all children, focusing on the marginalized population, ensuring that all children participate and are treated equally. The core of these ideas is the fundamental right to education for all. Embracing ‘Education for All’ must give as major consideration the right of children not only to basic education but education of quality with moral support as well as political and economic backing. The Vision according to the Task Force On Education Reform is “A prosperous and dynamic Jamaica which upholds the fulfillment of human rights, dignity for all persons, and builds continual social progress based on shared values and principles of partnerships. Minds are transformed and extraordinary results are produced in this the most caring and secure country in the Americas, where individuals fulfill their potential, and are in control of their destiny, take responsibility for their lives and work always to the larger good.”
Jamaica has already made advances by ratifying international conventions protecting the political and civil rights of person with disabilities. The government in its commitment to promote and support ‘Education for All' has also initiated a number of policies and initiatives to improve access and equity and ultimately the outcomes of the system. Policies and legislation must be promoted for enforcing inclusive education practices and upgrading the
required training of the teaching stuff while the government should advance public awareness at all the levels of the community is principal for.
Inclusive education is a constantly evolving process of change and improvement that aims at restructuring education and changing the education system. It is a
long-term process for securing economic progress and social stability while giving value to diverse communities, which means that countries should aim at providing “the framework that will transcend all boundaries so that our most treasured, the human capital, will thrive in a truly inclusive society.”
Bergsma, Sijtze. 2000. The Regular Classroom As Battleground For Inclusive Special Needs Education An Assessment Of Options Of Special Needs Education In The Commonwealth Caribbean. Education For All In The Caribbean: Assessment 2000 Monograph Series. Kingston: Office of the UNESCO Representative in the Caribbean.
UNESCO - International Bureau of Education, 2007. JAMAICA Caribbean Symposium On
Inclusive Education.
