ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the barriers that hinder inclusive education of mentally challenged children in the selected schools of Navakholo Division, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate some of the challenges of pupils with mental disability. The methods used for data collection were interview guides to gather information on the challenges of pupils with mental disability. The findings indicated that there were some problems faced by pupils of mental ha ndica p. The study recommended that, free primary education funds should be utilized to benefit Children with mental challenges as well through increasing special needs teachers, equipping resource rooms, libraries and buying instructional mechanisms to enable for the proper implementation of free primary education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

ABSTRACT viii

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Statement of the. problem 2

1.3. Objectives 3

1.4 Significance of the study 4

CHAPTERTWO 5

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 5

2.0 Introduction 5

2.1 Kenya’s education system 5

2.2 Problems faced by children with mental challenge in accessing education.... 7

2.2.1 Poverty 7

2.2.2 Attitudes 8

2.2.3 School infrastructure 8

2.2.4 Lack of Trained Special Needs Educational Teachers 9

2.2.5 Poor health and nutrition 10

2.3 Relevance of the education system to children with disabilities 11

2.3.1 Mode of Assessment 11

2.3.2 Content 11

CHAPTER THREE 12

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 12

3.1 Design 12

V

3.2.Environment.12

3.3. Respondents 12

3.4. Instruments of data collection 12

3.5. Data collection procedure 13

3.6. Statistical treatment of data 13

CHAPTER FOUR 14

FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS 14

4.0 Introduction 14

4.1 Relevance of Primary Education to Children with mental challenges 14

4.1.1 Mode of Assessment 14

4.1.2 Content 15

4.1.3 Mode of Delivery of Content 15

4.2 Factors Hindering Access. to Education by Children with mental. challenges 18

4.2.1 Non-Supportive Attitudes 18

4.2.2 Low Household Income 20

4.2.3 In conclusive Physical School Environment 20

CHAPTER FIVE 22

SUMMAIY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 22

5.1 Introduction 22

5.2 Summary of Findings and their Relevance 22

5.2.1 Summary of findings on the specific challenges of Children with mental

challenges 22

5.2.2 Summary of findings on the constraints to the provision of Educational

services for children with disabilities 23

5.3. Conclusions 24

5. 4. Recommendations 26

REFERENCES 29

APPENDIX I: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY (FAMILY

MEMBERS AND OTHERS) 31

APPENDIX II: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR THE CHILDREN WITH

MENTAL CHALLENGES 32

APPENDIX III: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR TEACHERS 33

APPENDIX IV: BUDGET 34