[MUSIC] There can be little doubt that for inclusion to be successful, teachers need to embrace the concept of inclusive education and be committed to implementing it. However, we often find that while teachers support the idea in principle and they agree that it is the right thing to do, they struggle to implement inclusive practices, saying that they have not been trained to do this. Indeed this is often the case. Our research on the TEDI project shows that there are still very few courses in initial teacher education on inclusive education, and even less on how to deal with specific impairments, such as we are discussing in this course. Often mainstream teachers feel that it is not their job to deal with disability for various reasons. Because of the legacy of special schools, there's still a strong perception in many countries, that only teachers in special schools who have special training, are able to do this work. And unfortunately, in many low income countries, this is actually not the case. However, teachers often look at disability in a narrow, medical model. Thinking that it should be addressed by specialists only. They understand it as a medical condition rather than as a barrier to learning which can be overcome through adapting particular teaching methods, materials, and the creation of a welcoming environment. But probably one of the main reasons that teachers struggle with inclusion is that they feel inadequately prepared and supported to do their job well. We expect a lot of our teachers. I was informed the other day that classrooms in Cameroon can have up to 100 children in a single class. How does one begin to understand how difficult that must be? And now, they'll be asked to change their practice to include a group of children who they have not previously worked with, and who are rightly or wrongly perceived to bring additional complications to their work. It is not surprising then that education systems might have to deal with some resistance on the part of teachers. However, top-down approach that enforces inclusion is unlikely to lead to good outcomes for the teacher or for the child. What are the alternatives? Research tells us in order to change and develop teaching practice, teacher development should be collaborative, focused on student needs and aspirations, it should be sustained over time, and it should be based on trying new things out, and connecting practice to theory. It is not something that can be done to teachers, but rather it requires their active participation. This is why we believe that teacher empowerment is critical to the success of inclusive education. What does empowerment mean? Empowerment has been defined as a process whereby teachers begin to take charge of their own growth and resolve their own problems. A teacher who's empowered is one who's confident of their skills and knowledge, and who is able to continually develop these skills. That's instead of saying that they were not trained, an empowered teacher says, how can I found out? But how do teachers become empowered? Is it just a matter of telling them to take control, surely not. It is a process that needs to be nurtured and supported. Teachers need to be consulted, and given the power to make decisions that affect their daily practice. They need to work out what inclusion would look like in their school and identify the school goals and policies that could support it. Research shows that when administrators follow such an approach, teacher morale increases and classroom instruction also improves. This means that there should be opportunities for teachers to take on leadership roles. An important part of teacher empowerment is collaboration. When teachers work together and learn from each other, it can enhance the quality of their work, as well as their own job satisfaction. Thus it is important that there is a space created where they can meet and share their experiences, and discuss student performance, curriculum, instruction and so on with their colleagues, as well as to provide encouragement and support to each other. Professional Learning Communities, PLCs, are a popular choice that provides collaboration during school hours. In this part, student performance, group professionals come together to make decisions and coordinate plans, as well as to learn from each other. This means they need to have regular meetings that are driven by a particular purpose. Given that many teachers do not have initial teacher training in inclusive education, this seems to be a useful strategy. In this week, we will look at what teachers need to know in order to support their learners. [MUSIC]