Conceptual representations of inclusive education among teachers and school principals
Résumé
The interventions and supports offered for students with special educational needs (SEN) in
schools considered to be inclusive in Lebanon are not similar in nature and reflect a disparity
in practices, which seems to be related to a varied conceptual representation, hence the
usefulness of developing a clear conceptual framework to harmonize the interpretation of the
implementation of inclusive schools. In the present research, we propose to analyze and discuss
the conceptual representations of inclusive schools made by school principals and teachers in
the public and/or private sector, our target population. A questionnaire was completed by 157
participants, followed by a content analysis. The results indicate that the conceptualization of
inclusive education in Lebanon is far from being well defined. It is only partial and mostly
reduced to a simple physical integration of SEN in schools. We emphasize confusion about the
terms used to designate the fundamental dimensions of inclusive education. Clarification of the
representations of professionals will promote an evolution in their conception and greater
effectiveness in their educational practice.