Effects of Free Primary Education on Learners with Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Primary Schools
A SUMMARY OF WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
The research will investigate the effects of free primary education on learners with diverse needs in the main stream primary schools. (A case of Lilongwe Urban Schools)
Identification of a sample of teachers, parents, pupils, schools.
Distribution of questionnaires, conduct interviews, and observations.
The Data will be conducted from four mainstream primary schools in Lilongwe district.
3.0. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1. A statement of search method
. Many learners with special educational needs experience a number of challenges in the mainstream primary schools in which in some way or the other prevent them from receiving quality education. (Ministry of Education PIF Document on special needs, 2000) At a conference held at Salamanca in Spain 1994, it was declared that learners with special educational needs acquire education in their home schools. (World Declaration on Education For All, 1990). This meant that they were to be included in the mainstream schools and the schools were supposed to accommodate these learners by providing them with specialized resources so that the children acquire quality education. The introduction of free primary education in Malawi in 1994 posed a threat towards the education of learners with special educational needs in their home schools, because much as it increased access to educational opportunities for all Malawians, it brought many challenges towards the education of learners with special educational needs in mainstream schools and to the ordinary learners as well. (Ministry of Education PIF document 2000).
One of the challenges emanating from the implementation of free primary education policy towards the education of learners with special educational needs is overcrowding in schools which lead to poor performance due to poor methods of teaching.
Statistics indicates that in 1993, there were about 1.6 million primary school students in Malawi. However, when free primary education
The research will investigate the effects of free primary education on learners with diverse needs in the main stream primary schools. (A case of Lilongwe Urban Schools)
Identification of a sample of teachers, parents, pupils, schools.
Distribution of questionnaires, conduct interviews, and observations.
The Data will be conducted from four mainstream primary schools in Lilongwe district.
3.0. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1. A statement of search method
. Many learners with special educational needs experience a number of challenges in the mainstream primary schools in which in some way or the other prevent them from receiving quality education. (Ministry of Education PIF Document on special needs, 2000) At a conference held at Salamanca in Spain 1994, it was declared that learners with special educational needs acquire education in their home schools. (World Declaration on Education For All, 1990). This meant that they were to be included in the mainstream schools and the schools were supposed to accommodate these learners by providing them with specialized resources so that the children acquire quality education. The introduction of free primary education in Malawi in 1994 posed a threat towards the education of learners with special educational needs in their home schools, because much as it increased access to educational opportunities for all Malawians, it brought many challenges towards the education of learners with special educational needs in mainstream schools and to the ordinary learners as well. (Ministry of Education PIF document 2000).
One of the challenges emanating from the implementation of free primary education policy towards the education of learners with special educational needs is overcrowding in schools which lead to poor performance due to poor methods of teaching.
Statistics indicates that in 1993, there were about 1.6 million primary school students in Malawi. However, when free primary education