Inclusive Education

The word Democracy is derived from two namely, demos and krakos. The former means people and the latter means power. In this way, the meaning of the word, democracy is people’s power or power in the hands of the people. Democracy in education manifests more strongly in the classroom through the concept of inclusive education.

Inclusive Education:

·        Educational Psychology teaches us that no two students in a classroom are same inherently owing to their individual differences.

·        This means that it is quite natural that in a class, there can be students who are exceptional, average and slow in learning.

·        To provide optimum learning experiences to the children from these three groups, different strategies of teaching should be devised and delivered.

·        For instance, exceptional students should be provided enrichment programs and slow learners require remedial programs.

·        This is where the idea of inclusive education makes its appearance.

·        According to the very notion of democracy, there should not be a discrimination in the treatment of any individual owing to the differences of any kind from the other members in a group.

·        Inclusive education says that there should not be any room for special treatments for children in a classroom with respect to instructional delivery.

·        Students from the three groups, namely, the exceptional, average and the slow learners should receive education in the same classroom.

·        The students exceptional in studies should help the teacher instead in effective implementation of the remedial programs for the slow learners.

·        They should serve as a source of inspiration  for the average students by displaying exemplary conduct.

·        This can reduce the hostile feeling of competition and promote mutual cooperation in the classroom.

Conclusion: It is a major challenge for any teacher to strike a balance between individual difference and inclusive education. Creativity, ingenuity and cooperation from the colleagues, parents and school management are the required ingredients to meet this challenge head on.