Parents’ views on inclusive education for children with special educational needs in Russia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study focuses on exploring parents’ views of inclusive education for children with special educational needs (SEN) in Russia. First, we bring parents’ voices to the forefront, exploring their points of view on inclusive education for their SEN children. Second, we deepen the current understanding of what aspects are important– from aparental perspective– in the provision of education for children with SEN in an inclusive school context. The research was designed as an exploratory study, and data were gathered by means of aqualitative online questionnaire. Using athematic analysis, two main themes were identified: parental views on inclusive education for children with SEN and important factors in the provision of education for children with SEN in an inclusive context. The results show that parents’ opinions about inclusive education for their children with SEN reveal obvious tensions. The findings point to teacher proficiency, parental involvement and humanity as being essential to the education of children with SEN, allowing them to evolve and thrive in inclusive school settings. Russia needs to increase its focus on parental involvement in fostering inclusive education and strengthen adequate preparation of teachers to improve the education provided for children with SEN in an inclusive context.