What’s Missing? Reviewing Conceptual Discourse of Inclusive Education in Indonesia

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership, Policy, and Practice in Inclusive and Special Education

Abstract

This study employs a rapid literature review and critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine how inclusive education is conceptualized in Indonesian contexts within the existing literature. Drawing on 34 peer-reviewed articles from EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science, it uncovers a persistent gap between conceptual definitions of inclusive education and the real-world contexts and topics scholars explore. An analysis of ideological and power dynamics shows that many researchers default to normative policy ideals without adequately grounding them in local practice. These findings underscore the need to reconceptualize inclusive education by linking theoretical frameworks to school-level realities. This study therefore urges future studies to adopt bottom-up, reflexive, and context-sensitive approaches when researching inclusive education in Indonesia.

Author

• Ikfina Maufuriyah, Indiana University