Challenges and Implementation of Inclusive Education in Selected Asian Countries: A Meta-Synthesis

Abstract

This systematic review, specifically a Meta-synthesis, aimed to synthesize the challenges and implementation of Inclusive Education (IE) in selected Asian countries. Fifteen (15) out of 792 studies were selected and screened through a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Academic databases such as Google Scholar, Cross Ref, Open Alex, and Scopus using Publish or Perish, and repositories such as The National University of Malaysia Journal Article Repository and Seoul National University Open Repository were used to gather relevant articles. The articles selected were organized using the PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram. The synthesized data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, which emerged with eight sub-themes: insufficient resources, lack of purposeful training and professional development, contrasting IE laws and policies, weak government support, appropriate curriculum and proper classroom organization, assessment practices, awareness of IE, and constant collaboration among different stakeholders. The challenges and implementation of IE in selected Asian countries emerged as the meta-theme of the study. This study recommends that the respective governments and Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) provide adequate fund allocation and revisit and strengthen existing laws and policies, professional development programs, and administrative support.