Attitudes of University Students towards Inclusion Education of students with special educational needs
Abstract
One of barriers to social inclusion seems to be the negative peer attitudes towards students with special educational needs. The aim of authors was to investigate the prevailing attitudes of university students towards integration of people with special educational needs within the mainstream schools.
The participating 346 university students filled in the Opinions Relative to Integration scale (ORI). The data analysis confirms prevailing positive attitudes towards integration of students with special educational needs – participating women were more positive in their attitudes than men.
The university students also believe that integration of students with special educational needs will be beneficial for their peers without disability. However the participants were critical towards readiness of teachers for integration within the mainstream schools setting.
The results are discussed in the context of international research.