Title: Examining Educational Outcomes of Learners with Hearing Impairment Across Levels of Education in Uganda: Policy and Practice Implications

• In Event: Policy Approaches to Inclusive Education by Governments and Schools

Proposal

Affiliation: Ministry of Education & Sports, Kampala, Uganda



Presenters:
Ms. Sarah Bugoosi Kibooli – Co-Principal Investigator Commissioner, Department of Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Ministry of Education & Sports, Kampala, Uganda
Dr. Ojok Patrick (PhD) – Principal Investigator Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Community and Disability Studies, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda (non-presenting author)



The overall goal of the education sector in Uganda is to achieve universal education for all. However, Ugandan children in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community face systemic, institutional, familial, and personal obstacles affecting their academic performance. This presentation will discuss the scarcity of national-level research on educational outcomes for learners with disabilities, and the importance of generating evidence on the performance of learners with hearing impairment in national examinations. The presentation will also discuss the policy and practice implications of the study, and how the findings can be used to inform interventions to improve the educational outcomes of learners with hearing impairment in Uganda.
The factors that facilitate or hinder access, participation, and educational achievement by persons with disabilities are relatively under-researched in Uganda and studies are small-scale in nature. Available studies indicate weak policy implementation, negative social and school attitudes, and a shortage of inclusive education specialist teachers.
The specific objectives of the study are to:
Determine the educational achievement of learners with hearing impairment (deaf and hard of hearing) in national examinations at primary and secondary levels relative to students with other types of disabilities.
Explore the factors that influence the educational achievements of learners with hearing impairment (deaf and hard of hearing) as measured through national examinations.
Establish the reasonable accommodation experiences of students with hearing impairment during national examinations and how this contributes to their performance.
Policy and Practice Implications:
The findings of this study will have important policy and practice implications for improving the educational outcomes of learners with hearing impairment in Uganda. The presenters will provide an understanding of generating evidence on the performance of learners with hearing impairment in national examinations and provide actionable strategies for informing policy and programmatic interventions geared toward equitable educational achievement for all learners with disabilities at national levels.
This study will provide evidence to support the development of policies and programs that:
Ensure that learners with hearing impairment have access to quality education in inclusive settings;
Provide reasonable accommodations to learners with hearing impairment to facilitate their participation in national examinations;
Train teachers and other school personnel on how to effectively teach learners with hearing impairment;
Raise awareness about the needs of learners with hearing impairment among parents, communities, and policymakers.
This discussion will cover valuable information to inform policy and practice in Uganda to improve the educational outcomes of learners who identify as deaf and hard of hearing. The findings of the study will help to ensure that all learners with hearing impairment have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Author

• Sarah Kibooli Bugoosi, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS