Issues that Parents of Learners with Physical Challenges Encounter in Providing Social Support to Their Children in Inclusive Schools in Tanzania

Abstract

It has been seen that although parental support is very important especially for the children with physical disability in inclusive education but children with disability could not get enough support from their parents. It is from this fact that the study explored the challenges that face parents in providing social support to their children with physical disabilities in inclusive education. The study was qualitative in nature, using a sample of four parents, four pupils and eight teachers who were selected purposively from two (2) districts of Katavi region. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were thematically analysed. Findings revealed that parents faced financial constraint in such a way that they could not afford the cost of buying mobility devices, medical services which were important for their children to adapt learning in inclusive education. It was found that pupils with physical disabilities could not use school latrines instead they spent a lot of time going back home for toilet services. This posed a challenge to the parents as it limits them from engaging in economic activities to raise their families’ income. Moreover, pupils with physical disabilities were subjected to bullying and abuse since they could not defend themselves which adds more emotion burdens to the parents. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that family instabilities and separation was another challenge faced parents of the children with physical disabilities. Most of pupils who participated in this study were receiving social support from their mothers after their fathers run away left them with mothers who could not provide necessary support. The study concluded that, apart from great effort done by government and nongovernmental organization to create awareness to the community about children with disability, still large part of the children with physical disabilities face stigma, bulling, rejection with their biological fathers and unfriendly infrastructure especially latrines in inclusive schools. All these pose challenges to the parents in providing social support to their children with physical disability in inclusive education.