Using African Epistemologies in Shaping Inclusive Education Knowledge


Book Description

This book thus explores the role of African epistemologies in addressing the myriad challenges posed by the inclusive education system in Africa and other contexts. In recent years, the shift from special education to inclusive education has had a significant impact on the provision of education and the education system as a whole in Africa. The impact has been felt in all institutions of learning from low to high, public and private, government, and across departments of education. Inclusive education, if shaped correctly by using African epistemologies, would empower learners to attain the relevant skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes for their own intellectual growth and personal development.




Using African Epistemologies in Shaping Inclusive Education Knowledge


Book Description

This book thus explores the role of African epistemologies in addressing the myriad challenges posed by the inclusive education system in Africa and other contexts. In recent years, the shift from special education to inclusive education has had a significant impact on the provision of education and the education system as a whole in Africa. The impact has been felt in all institutions of learning from low to high, public and private, government, and across departments of education. Inclusive education, if shaped correctly by using African epistemologies, would empower learners to attain the relevant skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes for their own intellectual growth and personal development.




Handbook of Research on Inclusive and Accessible Education


Book Description

In the vast expanse of education, a pervasive issue remains in the marginalization and lack of visibility of individuals with disabilities. Despite a strong desire for inclusivity, recent research suggests that fewer than 5% of children with disabilities in 51 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are enrolled in primary school. This exclusion is not solely in enrollment numbers; even those who manage to attend face learning environments ill-equipped to adapt to their needs, leading to further isolation. Girls with disabilities, in particular, endure heightened vulnerability to abuse, reflecting a systemic failure to provide an environment that fosters equality, dignity, and respect for all. The Handbook of Research on Inclusive and Accessible Education emerges as an inspiration for change, providing a profound solution to the persistent issue of exclusion. The book encapsulates a collective effort to reimagine education. It advocates for a paradigm shift—moving away from the confinement of special schools and towards inclusive, mainstream settings. By addressing controversies, sharing successes, and outlining prospects, the book serves as a comprehensive guide for special school governing bodies, curriculum advisors, university lecturers, and all stakeholders committed to reshaping education.




African Design Futures


Book Description




Handbook of Research on Shifting Paradigms of Disabilities in the Schooling System


Book Description

Children living with disabilities face hardships of many kinds that make it impossible for them to access quality education in the same way as their peers in the schooling system. All children are entitled to quality education and a supportive school environment that allows them to develop to their full potential irrespective of their disabilities. However, different factors make it difficult for many learners who live with disabilities to access, participate, and succeed in the schooling system. The Handbook of Research on Shifting Paradigms of Disabilities in the Schooling System focuses on the global trends in education that require the total eradication of every form of impediment in the process of accessing quality education and lifelong learning for people living with disabilities. Rooted in the philosophy of equal rights, human dignity, and social justice, access to quality education for all has led to the current drive for inclusive education. Covering topics such as inclusive schooling systems, visual impairments, and emotional disabilities, this major reference work is an essential resource for students and faculty of higher education, administrators of both K-12 and higher education, government officials, policymakers, non-profit organizations, researchers, and academicians.




Social Inclusion Tactics for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities


Book Description

An intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) is a lifelong condition that limits intelligence, learning, and daily life skills. People with IDDs are often not integrated in mainstream society. They have fewer opportunities to participate in recreational activities, hindering their social inclusion, which has the potential to diminish quality of life. As a compassionate society, we must understand how people with IDDs can be socially integrated to ensure their mental health and to maximize their potential so that they can contribute to society in their unique way. Social Inclusion Tactics for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities promotes the social integration of people with IDDs and aims to increase awareness about the lack of opportunities for socialization for people with IDDs. Covering topics such as autism, children with disabilities, and societal inclusion, this book is a valuable resource for organizations, policymakers, academicians, researchers, sociologists, and more.




History and Educational Philosophy for Social Justice and Human Rights


Book Description

In the complex landscape of educational philosophy and policy, a difficult challenge arises — the entwined issues of racism and other demographic differences, and evolving education policies. Traditional historical accounts fall short of addressing the broader historical patterns that underscore these challenges, particularly their colonial legacy. The need for a fresh perspective becomes evident, one that transcends chronology and delves into the intricate dynamics shaping contemporary educational thought. History and Educational Philosophy for Social Justice and Human Rights emerges as a groundbreaking solution to this conundrum. Through a broad developmental and historical lens, the book provides a fresh perspective on the role of differences as the core, content, and subject of education. It advocates for cultural resistance and a permanent political struggle by political-cultural minorities and social movements, while also challenging public institutions, especially schools, to actively embrace and utilize differences in their foundational work. By engaging with the tensions and struggles around differences, the book contends that institutions can transform, becoming agents of positive change, and contributing to the foundation of an inclusive and participatory democracy. This book invites scholars and educators to not only understand the challenges but to actively participate in shaping a future where differences are not merely acknowledged but celebrated within the realms of education and society at large.




Community Development Practice in Africa


Book Description

This project seeks to enhance both the theoretical and practical understanding of community development by adopting an African perspective. Recognizing that the majority of community development literature utilized in African academic settings predominantly focuses on practices from the Global North, this edited volume addresses a critical gap. It develops, compiles, and promotes scholarship that is transnational yet reflective of the unique realities present within the African context. This edited volume expands the global discourse on community development by delving into the particular forms it takes within African settings. It will explore how local practices influence existing theories and models of community development and examine the integration of these theories into practical applications within African communities. The motivating goal of this edited book is to provide a space to examine the specific contextual factors that impact the history, theory and practice of community development in Africa. Community development should reflect the local context in which it is practiced. The contributions included in this edited book will provide a valuable resource for professors, researchers, and practitioners, presenting a range of historically, culturally, and socially situated critical perspectives. In summary, this collection seeks to highlight African context specific literature in the field of community development.




Global Perspectives on Micro-Learning and Micro-Credentials in Higher Education


Book Description

In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, where the acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong pursuit, educators and institutions are redefining the paradigms of learning through innovative approaches. Global Perspectives on Micro-Learning and Micro-Credentials in Higher Education delves into the intricate tapestry of contemporary education, where the convergence of advanced pedagogies and cutting-edge technologies is reshaping traditional boundaries. As the realms of chatbots, gamification, and hybrid learning intersect, a new era of holistic education emerges, seamlessly blending theoretical prowess with experiential wisdom. The book unfurls with meticulous exploration of pivotal themes, embracing the nuanced realms of instructional design, learning analytics, and library services tailored for the modern educational era. From the granular landscapes of microlearning to the macroscopic view of global teacher retention strategies, the book leaves no stone unturned. This book is a symphony of intellectual rigor, orchestrated to resonate with educators, administrators, researchers, and all stakeholders vested in the future of learning.




Handbook of Research on Creating Spaces for African Epistemologies in the Inclusive Education Discourse


Book Description

Students with disabilities who are not able to perform to the best of their abilities often find themselves learning in inaccessible environments and subjected to increased stress levels due to the haphazard provisioning of education characterized by physical, communicative, and unsuitable teaching and learning approaches. Very often this is a result of various shortcomings including unfair assessment practices. Misconceptions and a lack of knowledge with regard to the implementation of inclusive education detract from the successful admission of students with disabilities and their retention and active participation. The Handbook of Research on Creating Spaces for African Epistemologies in the Inclusive Education Discourse explores the concept of inclusive education in an African context. It advocates for the monitoring and evaluation of inclusive education and proposes interventions where reasonable accommodation or lack of accessibility is a reason for students with disabilities to not benefit from this system. Covering topics such as barriers to learning, rural schools, and student support, this major reference work is an essential resource for administrators, advocates for students with disabilities, policymakers, researchers, pre-service teachers, educators, academicians, and students.