Attitude of Stakeholders towards Inclusive Education : A Study in the context of West Bengal

Abstract

This paper examines the attitude of stakeholders towards inclusive education in West Bengal. The sample comprised four types of stakeholders, namely 32 headmasters, 35 teachers, 30 parents, and 35 school management committee members, drawn randomly from 32 schools from the Howrah district of West Bengal. A descriptive survey method was employed to complete the study, and a 30-item self-constructed attitude scale was used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The overall attitude of stakeholders was found to be positive for inclusive education. Compared to other categories of stakeholders, parents had the least desirable attitude when it comes to acting positively for inclusive education, while the school management committee viewed it more positively than parents. The most favourable attitude was seen by the teacher. In terms of gender, the female stakeholders were found to be more positive than their male counterparts. The influence of educational qualifications and age on the attitude of stakeholders was also observed. The study recommends that stakeholders' attitudes be positively shaped by organizing awareness programs and involving the media in the generation and dissemination of knowledge. The study has implications for teachers, differently-abled students, educational administrators, policymakers, rehabilitation professionals, and media personnel.