ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to determine the challenges Faced by Mentally Retarded in an Inclusive Setting Rongai Zone, Nkong District Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were; to investigate the challenges faced by children with mental retardation in an inclusive setting, to determine the causes of mental retardation and to identify the advantages of inclusive learning for children with mental retardation. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires to the teachers, interview with the pupils and focus group discussion with the community members. The study revealed that mentally retarded children they face a problem of negative attitude from the normal pupils and the teachers, they are not free in an inclusive setting, they lack learning materials, they are faced with a big class size and the curriculum does not favor mentally retarded learners The study revealed that environmental factors like lack of early exposure to intellectually stimulating experiences, inadequate health care, adverse living conditions and nutritional problems cause mental retardation. It was also revealed that prenatal factors cause's mental retardation. These include initial infection during pregnancy. It was also revealed that mental retardation may also result jiwn factors occurring postnatal. These include infections, such as meningitis and encephalitis, intoxicants. The study revealed that mental retardation may be caused by genetic factors and brain damage, cultural factors and bad spirits. The study revealed that revealed that in an inclusive setting; mentally retarded children have an opportunity to interact and socialize with the normal pupils. They also learn a lot of things and new events fiwn their peers (normal pupils). The study revealed that in an inclusive setting, pupils learn how to behave in the same way as normal pupils. They also some how get encouraged that they can make it as normal pupils since they all sit in the same class. The government should build infrastructure that is conducive for pupils with disabilities so that they fit in an inclusive setting. More teachers should be trained in the areas of special needs education so that they gain necessa,y lazowledge and sldlls to handle and care for children with disabilities. A curriculum should be adopted to suit the special needs of learners. Teachers should be sensitized about the special needs education more especially those in integrated schools.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION .......................................................................................................................... vii
APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................ viii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... .ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................................. x
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... xi
LIST OFT ABLES ....................................................................................................................... xiii
LIST OF CHARTS ....................................................................................................................... xiv
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. xv
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.0. Overview .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background to the study ............................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................................. 2
1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................................................... 2
1.5 Scope of the study ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................. 4
LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 4
2.0. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4
2.1. Conceptual framework ............................................................................................................ .4
Source (researchers own construction) ........................................................................................... .4
2.2. Challenges Faced By Mentally Retarded Learners in an Inclusive Setting ............................. 5
2.3. Causes of Mental Retardation ................................................................................................... 6
2.4. Advantages of Inclusive Learning ............................................................................................ 8
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 11
3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 11
3 .1 Research Design ...................................................................................................................... 11
XI
3 .2 Environment / Area and population of study ........................................................................... 11
3 .3 Sample selection ...................................................................................................................... 11
3.4 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................ 11
3 .4.1 Research instruments ............................................................................................................ 11
3.5. Data Collection Procedures .................................................................................................... 12
3.6. Methods of data analysis ........................................................................................................ 12
3.7 Statistical Treatment of Data ................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 13
DATA, ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION .......................................... 13
4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.1. Profile of the respondents ....................................................................................................... 13
4.1.1 Gender of the respondents .................................................................................................... 13
4.1.2. Educational level of the respondents ................................................................................... 14
4.1.3. Age of the respondents ........................................................................................................ 14
Challenges Faced By Mentally Retarded Learners in an Inclusive Setting .................................. 17
Causes of mental retardation ......................................................................................................... 24
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 28
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. 28
5.0. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 28
5.1. Discussions ............................................................................................................................. 28
5.2. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 30
5.3. Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 31
Suggestions for further research .................................................................................................... 31
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 32
APPENDIX I: TRANSMITAL LETTER ..................................................................................... 34
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERS ............................................................... 35
APPENDIX III: TIME FRAME OF THE STUDY ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX N: BUDGET OF THE STUDY ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.