PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES TOWARDS THE INTEGRATION OF STUDENTS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT INTO REGULAR PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF JIG JIGA CITY ADMINISTRATION, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the practices and challenges towards the integration of students with hearing impairment into regular primary schools and Jig- jiga city. Descriptive case study design with qualitative research approach was employed. The researcher used interview, observation and focus group discussion. The respondents were selected by using availability and purposive sampling techniques. In this design interviews were made with the total of 31 participants including 5 students with hearing impairment, 12 hearing students, 10 teachers, 2 special needs teachers and 2 principals. Focus group discussion was held with 5 students with hearing impairment. The data obtained were analyzed through qualitative description. Findings indicated the benefits that integration could contribute to the students with hearing impairment appeared to be more and social benefits rather than the academic benefits. Regular class students who supported the integration and hearing impairment students believed that integration would enable students with hearing impairment to develop better relationship with hearing students, avoid feeling and loneliness, gain assistance from hearing students in academic activities, improve their language through interaction with hearing students, develop self-confidence and to improve their academic performance. The findings showed these students also facing challenges after they integrated into regular classes, these challenges occurred due to lack of knowledge and low practices of the regular class teachers and their peers, lack of motivation of teachers to teach children with hearing impairment, lack of resources and unavailability of resource room, and other factors tackling the growth of integrative education the school. Therefore, the researcher recommended that the teachers teaching children with hearing impairment should be given frequent workshops and seminars to keep abreast with the current trends of the education of learners with hearing impairment. They should also attend short courses in sign language in order for them to be more proficient.