Chapter 11: Voices From The Trenches: Teachers’ Perspectives On Inclusion

Inclusive education remains a major educational goal as evidenced by its integration into Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. The journey to accomplishing this goal is fraught with a number of challenges, and full implementation across cultures remains elusive (Mafa 2012; Mitiku, Alemu, & Mengsitu, 2014). Arguably, the successful implementation of inclusion is contingent on the commitment of all key stakeholders, particularly teachers. According to Donohue and Bornman (2015), teachers are expected to be one of the primary drivers of inclusive policies because they are the gatekeepers for the classroom climate and activities. Therefore, the main thesis of this chapter is the understanding that teachers are the most important players in the implementation of inclusion.