CONTRIBUTIONS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTERS IN PROMOTING INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN JIMA ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of inclusive education resource centers in promoting inclusion of children with disabilities in Jimma zone Oromia Regional State. A mixed –method research approach with concurrent design nested strategy was employed. Six IERC’s were selected through purposeful sampling technique. The data were collected from one Woreda SNE expert, one Zonal SNE expert, two city administrations SNE expert, six SNE teachers, six, itinerant teachers& six school principals were selected through purposive sampling techniques and regular teachers (n=109) and Students with Disabilities (n=100) were selected through simple random sampling techniques. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and quantitative data analyzed through descriptive statistics methods. Finally, the results were presented based on the FDRE Ministry of Education guideline for establishing and managing inclusive education resource centers (IERCs) to determine how the IERCs contribute promoting inclusion of CWDs. The findings shows that lack of sufficient budget, shortage of human power in subject wise, lack of clear monitoring and managing system, both positive attitudes towards IE and areas where needs improvements Finally, the researcher recommended that governments should budgeting enough budget, offering sufficient trained manpower in subject wise, spreading out monitoring and evaluation system.