Published Article

ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationship between the policy on inclusive education implementation and the practice of inclusiveness in Early Childhood Education Centres (ECECs) in public primary schools in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. To achieve the purpose of this study, three specific objectives and corresponding research questions were formulated. Three null hypotheses were also postulated to guide the study. A correlational research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 351 head teachers. A sample size of 151 head teachers was selected through purposive sampling. Caregivers were used as raters to respond on the practice of inclusiveness in the ECECs, with one caregiver purposively selected per school to correspond with the number of head teachers.The instruments used for the study were the Policy on Inclusive Education Implementation Questionnaire (PIEIQ) and the Practice of Inclusiveness in Early Childhood Education Questionnaire (PIECEQ). The instruments were subjected to face validity by experts. A trial testing technique was used to determine the reliability of the instruments, and Cronbach's Alpha analysis yielded coefficients of 0.91 and 0.82, respectively. To administer the questionnaire, the researcher and two research assistants were briefed before visiting the various schools. Simple linear regression was used to answer the research questions and test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance.The findings revealed a significant relationship between the presence of inclusively trained teachers, infrastructural facilities, and instructional materials for implementation, and the practice of inclusiveness in Early Childhood Education Centres in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among other things, that the provision of inclusive infrastructural facilities for the implementation and practice of inclusiveness in Early Childhood Education should be a collaborative effort between the government and non-governmental organisations.