Status of Inclusive Education at Kigali Institute of Education.

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to assess the status of inclusive education at Kigali Institute of Education. It was guided by the following research questions: What is the profile of the respondents? What are the resources available in inclusive education? What are the obstacles to students with disabilities in inclusive education? And what is the level of satisfaction of the students with disabilities in inclusive education? A cross-sectional research design was used in this study applying a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were gathered through interview, observation and questionnaires. Frequencies and percentages were used to present and analyze data. It was found that students at KIE are still young while the staff is old and that the great number of them is male. Moreover, the majority of the staff have low qualification and the great number of both students and staff has not any disabilities. While there is a lack of trained staff in inclusive education, there is no provision of other trainings in that area. Furthermore, there is a lack of enough resources for inclusive education and the available ones are used for other purposes. The layout of infrastructures at KIE is an obstacle to students with disabilities and due to a lack of funding there is no plan to change them. However, students with disabilities are satisfied with the care they are given by their peers. It was concluded that the profile of the respondents is still low and negatively affects inclusive education. The resources available are not enough, students with disabilities meet obstacles caused by the layout of infrastructures and students with disabilities are highly satisfied. It was then recommended that in collaboration with the government and other educational stakeholders the profile of staff and the resources should be increased, obstacles should be alleviated and satisfaction of students with disabilities should be enhanced.