,HED4810 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 9 July 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
QUESTION 1
The Persistence of Exclusion in Education Despite Inclusive
Policies
Despite global and national commitments to inclusive education,
exclusion in education continues to persist in many forms. I
agree with the statement that exclusion in education remains an
issue even though inclusive policies have been adopted. While
policies provide a framework for promoting inclusivity, their
implementation often falls short due to systemic, social, and
practical challenges. This essay outlines five key reasons why
exclusion in education continues, supported by recent research
and scholarly sources.
1. Policy-Implementation Gap
One of the most significant reasons exclusion persists is the gap
between policy and practice. Although policies such as South
Africa’s White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education aim to integrate
all learners, schools often lack the resources and capacity to
implement these policies effectively. Teachers report feeling
underprepared to support learners with diverse needs due to
insufficient training or professional development (Donohue &
Bornman, 2024). As a result, inclusion remains a goal rather
than a reality for many learners.
2. Inadequate Teacher Training and Support
, Teachers play a central role in facilitating inclusive education,
yet many are not adequately trained to accommodate learners
with disabilities or those from different cultural and linguistic
backgrounds. This lack of preparation leads to classroom
environments that may unintentionally marginalize certain
learners. Engelbrecht et al. (2023) highlight that pre-service and
in-service teacher training often fails to equip educators with
practical strategies to address diversity in the classroom, thereby
perpetuating exclusion.
3. Socioeconomic Barriers
Poverty and inequality are major contributors to educational
exclusion. Learners from disadvantaged communities may face
challenges such as lack of access to transport, school uniforms,
nutritious meals, or internet connectivity. According to Spaull
and Zuze (2023), socioeconomic status remains one of the
strongest predictors of educational outcomes in South Africa,
often outweighing the intentions of inclusive policies. These
barriers limit access and full participation for many learners.
4. Infrastructure and Resource Constraints
Many schools, especially in rural or underfunded areas, lack the
infrastructure needed for inclusive education. This includes
accessible classrooms, assistive technologies, and learning
materials that cater to a wide range of learning needs. Without
these resources, schools are unable to support learners with
disabilities or those who require additional support, reinforcing
exclusion despite policy commitments (Clasquin-Johnson &
Johnson, 2025).
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 9 July 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
QUESTION 1
The Persistence of Exclusion in Education Despite Inclusive
Policies
Despite global and national commitments to inclusive education,
exclusion in education continues to persist in many forms. I
agree with the statement that exclusion in education remains an
issue even though inclusive policies have been adopted. While
policies provide a framework for promoting inclusivity, their
implementation often falls short due to systemic, social, and
practical challenges. This essay outlines five key reasons why
exclusion in education continues, supported by recent research
and scholarly sources.
1. Policy-Implementation Gap
One of the most significant reasons exclusion persists is the gap
between policy and practice. Although policies such as South
Africa’s White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education aim to integrate
all learners, schools often lack the resources and capacity to
implement these policies effectively. Teachers report feeling
underprepared to support learners with diverse needs due to
insufficient training or professional development (Donohue &
Bornman, 2024). As a result, inclusion remains a goal rather
than a reality for many learners.
2. Inadequate Teacher Training and Support
, Teachers play a central role in facilitating inclusive education,
yet many are not adequately trained to accommodate learners
with disabilities or those from different cultural and linguistic
backgrounds. This lack of preparation leads to classroom
environments that may unintentionally marginalize certain
learners. Engelbrecht et al. (2023) highlight that pre-service and
in-service teacher training often fails to equip educators with
practical strategies to address diversity in the classroom, thereby
perpetuating exclusion.
3. Socioeconomic Barriers
Poverty and inequality are major contributors to educational
exclusion. Learners from disadvantaged communities may face
challenges such as lack of access to transport, school uniforms,
nutritious meals, or internet connectivity. According to Spaull
and Zuze (2023), socioeconomic status remains one of the
strongest predictors of educational outcomes in South Africa,
often outweighing the intentions of inclusive policies. These
barriers limit access and full participation for many learners.
4. Infrastructure and Resource Constraints
Many schools, especially in rural or underfunded areas, lack the
infrastructure needed for inclusive education. This includes
accessible classrooms, assistive technologies, and learning
materials that cater to a wide range of learning needs. Without
these resources, schools are unable to support learners with
disabilities or those who require additional support, reinforcing
exclusion despite policy commitments (Clasquin-Johnson &
Johnson, 2025).
