Frist Degree | College of Education

Program Profile

Bachelor of Art Degree in Special Needs and Inclusive Education

Program summary

Name of the Program: Special Needs and Inclusive Education
Name of the Degree to be awarded: Bachelor of Art Degree in Special Needs and Inclusive Education “የአርት ባችለር ዲግሪ በልዩፍላጎት እና አካቶ ትምህርት”
Degree to be awarded by Bahir Dar University, Subjected to the Approval of the University Senate
Standard Period of Study: 4 Academic Years with 8 Semesters
Commencement of the Program: 2013 E.C./2021 G.C.
Fees/Charges: As per regulation of the University

Program Objectives

To respond to and support the implementation of GTP and ESDP (2010) that has given high emphasis for the implementation of special needs education
To implement and respond to UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was ratified by the Government of Ethiopia in 2010
To meet the target of the Ministry of Education which was in its guideline (2001/02) that specify the need for professionals in the field of special needs education which will be assigned in all schools with at least one lead and one assistant special needs education teacher in each schools for general education (1-10)
To create and facilitate preconditions that will help to put legislations, policies and directives into action in relation to Special Needs Education
To provide evidence-based support to all school children, improve and raise quality of learning To produce teachers and educators capable of meeting individual needs in inclusive settings, in schools as well as in the community
To realize research based inclusive education
To produce professionals who create awareness about special needs/individual differences and develop skills of identifying these needs to provide support and prevent possible exclusion of learners at risk
To produce professionals who work with school and local community, empower and encourage regular school teachers to use alternative and supportive teaching approaches and improve quality of learning
To provide professionals in education who can identify, and asses the needs, problems and potentials of different children with special needs and provide psychosocial and psycho educational interventions
To produce resource persons to provide support to the mainstream teachers having learners with special needs in their classes
To facilitate the inclusion of children and youth with special needs into the mainstream schools with the appropriate attitude, skills and knowledge
To generate teachers who can construct and administer various intervention-based assessment tools so as to confirm the existence of disability and its diverse nature
To develop teachers who can assess the teaching, training, therapeutic and vocational needs of children and youth with special needs
To provide teachers who can manage the problem behavior of children and youth with special needs
To develop teachers who can render counseling services to the parents, caregivers’ teachers, etc. so as to prevent the exclusion of the children and youth with special needs
To generate teachers who can undertake research works in the areas of children with special needs in particular and general education.

Graduate Profile

Upon completion of the four years program, the students will be able to demonstrate the following competencies in relation to knowledge, skills and attitude:

Develop and advocate for inclusive education policies and disability rights
Implement strategies to ensure educational access for all learners Plan, manage, and evaluate inclusive initiatives
Engage stakeholders, mobilize resources, and foster collaboration
Support career choices and higher education access for individuals with special needs
Identify, assess, and address developmental needs through evaluation tools and studies
Create intervention and rehabilitation programs for home, school, and community settings
Train educators and communities; teach Braille and sign language
Develop resource centers and promote adaptive learning technologies
Apply problem-solving and provide expertise in special needs education
Uphold equity, respect, and the importance of inclusive education for all

Contact person

Solomon Kassie (Assistant Professor),

Head, Department of Special Needs & Inclusive Education

solomon.kassie@bdu.edu.et

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