Browsing by Author "Tezera Getachew"
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Item Perceptions of Teachers and Students towards the Inclusion of Students with Hearing Impairment at Mulugeta Gadile Primary School in Sebeta Town(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06) Tezera Getachew; Abdreheman S. (PhD)The research was a qualitative case study that examined the perceptions of teachers and students towards the inclusion of students with hearing impairments at Mulugeta Gadile Primary School in Sebeta Town. Framed by the social model of disability, the study sought to understand how inclusion for students with hearing impairments is conceptualized within mainstream educational settings. A total of thirty-three participants were purposively selected from the population of ten general education teachers, fifteen hearing students and eight students with hearing impairments. Data was gathered using observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. The findings reveal a significant disconnect: while participants conceptually supported inclusion, its practical implementation was severely hampered by communication barriers, primarily teachers' limited sign language proficiency. Students with hearing impairments indicated that during group work or classroom discussion they often felt socially isolated. Hearing students expressed that they were empathetic but would find it hard to communicate effectively. The teachers stated they valued the inclusion of students with hearing impairments, but they also felt their lack of training and the absence of the necessary support posed a barrier. It reaches the conclusion that the building of sign language proficiency among teachers, expansion of support services, and development of more positive perceptions are the main ingredients for effective inclusion of students with hearing impairments. Keywords: inclusion, hearing impairments, teachers’ perceptions, students’ perception