Inclusive Education Volition, Participation, and Social Change

Abstract

Lack of access to educational resources and inequality in educational provision are the main reasons why learners with disabilities do not benefit from or participate in education. Inclusive education is meant to remove and/or minimise barriers to learning to enable learners from different backgrounds to participate in education effectively. The main aim of this chapter is to reemphasize and entrench values which prioritise equal access and equity in the provision of education to all people. Principles of inclusive education were discussed and were premised on democratic perspectives including and not limited to sovereignty of the people, government based upon the consent of the governed and majority rule. This chapter places significant weight on the importance of actions of people who face various barriers to learning whose will to partake in inclusive development (volition) should contribute to positive change on their lives and the progress of their whole societies.