Abstract
The aim of this investigation to find out the level and to find out any significant difference in knowledge of M.Ed. Student teachers towards inclusive education policies based on gender. Inclusive education providing is designed to respond to the needs of learners who experience learning barriers. Democracy believes in equality of rights of all the citizens by law of the land. It provides safe constitutional and legal mechanism for enforcement of such laws for the protection of rights and also for the equalization of opportunities. The study was conducted on 249 M.Ed. students studying in Salem & Namakkal district of Tamilnadu state. A test was prepared by the investigators to test the basic awareness of inclusive education policy among these students. The awareness questionnaire consisted of 40 items. It was found that 22% of the students scored between the 0-13 range thus depicting below the level of knowledge about inclusive education policy. 67% of the students scored between the 14-27 range thus depicting an average level of knowledge regarding inclusive education policy and only 27 students were able to score in the 28-40 range thus 11% of the students fall above average level of knowledge regarding inclusive education policy. The study indicates that the knowledge of M.Ed. student teachers an average level of knowledge. Hence awareness programmes need to be in the curriculum of M.Ed. level and study also elicited some valuable suggestions from teacher trainees to develop inclusive education programme at the M.Ed level which is helpful to the student for a better understanding of inclusive education & its policies.
Keywords: Awareness, Inclusive, Education, Policy, Government, M.Ed. student teachers
[1] Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Education, Periyar University, Salem – 636011, Tamilnadu.