Making sense of inclusive education in the Pacific region: Networking as a way forward. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miles, Susie; Lene, Donna; Merumeru, Laisiasa
• Other Names: Singal Nidhi guest-editor.; Muthukrishna Nithi guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Childhood. Volume 21:Number 3(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 339
• Page End: 353
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Disability -- networking -- inclusive education -- Samoa -- Pacific; Children -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Children -- Research -- Periodicals; 305.23
• DOI: 10.1177/0907568214524458
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0907-5682

Abstract

This article is based on material collected in researching the viability of a regional network focused on the inclusion of children with disabilities in education in the Pacific region. It discusses the importance of balancing the international vision of a rights-based approach to education with indigenous inclusive values in the small and scattered Pacific island populations. A case study is analysed of the development of community-based inclusive education in Samoa by a national non-governmental organisation in collaboration with various government ministries, and finally, the potential of networking in generating new, contextually relevant knowledge about inclusive education is debated.