Challenges Faced by Indigenous Grade Five Pupils in Learning Inclusive Education in Malitam Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Education has always been an identified priority concern, with the Indigenous Peoples Apostolates (IPAs) formulating their own programs or interventions depending on the availability of resources and other considerations. Inclusive Education is a learning environment where children with and without disabilities are taught together as equals. An inclusive approach to education insists on getting all children and youth into regular public schools and mainstream systems or private systems of equal quality and all illiterate adults into literacy programs. It is concerned with not only initial enrolment, regular participation, and grade promotion but also longer-term achievement through the quality of education provided. Education is not accessible for it requires both an analysis of the causes or drivers of exclusion and the proactive searching for, and targeted support to those excluded.It implies the restructuring of school cultures, policies, and practices to meet the diversity of the students.

METHODS

The researcher utilized the descriptive method of research visualizing the extent of challenges met by the indigenous pupils in learning inclusive education. Lesson plans and questionnaires were utilized as the main data gathering instruments. Collecting data is important to the validity of this study. At the beginning of the study, the researcher interviewed the respondents and gathered information about their success and failure.

RESULTS

The challenges encountered by the respondents were met to a moderate extent as revealed in the obtained composite mean of 2.32. Financial Problem was the challenge encountered most by the indigenous pupils, which ranked first and had a weighted mean of 3.79. Time allotted in teaching is limited, the classroom atmosphere is not conducive to learning, lack of proper motivation to arouse the interest of the pupils and culture differences were met to the least extent.

DISCUSSIONS

Challenges such as financial problem, weather conditions during the rainy season were met to a very great extent, while miscommunication of students and teachers, inadequate information, and availability of books which will answer the problems and difficulties of the pupils to catch up with the lesson are met to a great extent. The Badjao parents may attend seminars about home economics or livelihood education, with the help of non-government or government organization, to support their children's studies.