International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Inclusive education integrates students with disabilities into mainstream schools, ensuring they receive appropriate support in age-appropriate general education classes. This approach, aiming for Education for All (EFA), focuses on transforming school systems to remove barriers rather than labeling and changing students. The core principles include developing responsive, accepting, respectful, and supportive learning environments where all students can learn together. This paper outlines the aims and objectives of inclusive education, which are to provide access and retention for marginalized children, deliver quality inclusive learning, implement inclusive policies, and build capacity among education managers. The ten steps for effective implementation, such as evaluating current practices, engaging leadership teams, and continuous monitoring, are discussed. The barriers to inclusive education, including attitudinal, physical, curriculum-related, untrained teachers, inadequate funding, poor organization, and policy issues, are analyzed. Solutions and recommendations, such as promoting positive attitudes, following expert recommendations, ensuring adequate resources, and garnering public support, are provided to enhance the effectiveness of inclusive education and ensure all students have access to quality education.

Keywords: Inclusive education, Education for All (EFA), disabilities, mainstream schools, support services, educational barriers, policy implementation