Ability, Examination and Inclusive Education: Stretching the Hard Lines of the Educational System

The aim of this paper is to delve into the debate about the epistemological nature of ability and examination, which we have been continuously exposed to, but rarely scrutinized. In the paper, I refer to Turkey as a case and argue that the dominance of ability-based paradigm and its associated assessment and placement systems have created a new educational order which categorizes schools and students based on how they perform at a single point in time. What is more, I critically evaluate the construction of “abilities” and “disabilities” through the means employed in the education system, followed by a discussion of the examination culture as a product of an ability-based system. Finally, I propose inclusive education as a powerful means of transforming the education system to an equitable and educationally effective one in which all students are welcomed and provided with education of good quality that both enriches childhood and maximizes chances of leading a fulfilled adult life

Including Students with Visual Difficulty within Higher Education: Necessary Steps

WOS: 000444996200005The aim of this research study was to investigate the inclusion of students with disabilities studying in Turkish universities. Students with visual difficulty were selected as a case from 24 different universities. A survey with seven dimensions was administered to 73 students, and 12 students were interviewed. Survey and interview findings revealed both progress and, to a larger extent, dissatisfaction with (i) the physical and psychosocial environment of universities; (ii) the way diversity and disability were viewed; (iii) the way support was planned and delivered; (iv) the level and quality of communication and collaboration; (v) the teaching and learning processes; and (vi) the way higher education policy was made and implemented. Findings highlight the need for prioritizing university cultures that are inclusive of students with diverse backgrounds and translation of the inclusiveness into effective practice of providing pedagogical and material support to these students