Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools

Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations, Goal #4 calls for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. However, students with disabilities continue to face exclusionary pressures, especially in developing coun...

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Main Author: Mengistu Debele Gerbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adama Science and Technology University 2025-08-01
Series:Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development
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Online Access:https://213.55.101.19/index.php/EJSSD/article/view/1046
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author Mengistu Debele Gerbi
author_facet Mengistu Debele Gerbi
author_sort Mengistu Debele Gerbi
collection DOAJ
description Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations, Goal #4 calls for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. However, students with disabilities continue to face exclusionary pressures, especially in developing countries. Achieving SDGs through inclusive education requires more than just declarations of intents; it demands strong commitment to action, ensuring that policies and strategies outlined in national and international frameworks are effectively put into practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges to achieving inclusive quality education and realizing sustainable development goal #4. Quantitative research design was used, with data collected through questionnaire administered to 219 teachers across six primary schools selected by random sampling. The study examined implementation of inclusive education policy, inclusive leadership, inclusive teaching supports, and availability of educational assistive technologies. The findings revealed that the overall implementation of inclusive education policy (M = 2.56, SD = 1.06), inclusive leadership (M = 2.69, SD = 1.11), availability of assistive technology (M = 2.5, SD = 1.2), and inclusive teaching support (M = 2.80, SD = 1.24) are all low. Moreover, one-way ANOVA revealed that there is no statistically significant differences among schools regarding practice of inclusive education (F (5, 213) = 0.427, p > 0.05). In conclusion, effective implementation of policies and collaboration among all the educational stakeholders is mandatory for inclusive education and to realize SDG #4.
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spelling doaj-art-27ed5fdfe2714f458f539baddc0ff47d2025-08-20T03:14:38ZengAdama Science and Technology UniversityEthiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development1998-05312663-32052025-08-0112210.20372/ejssdastu:v12.i2.2025.1046Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary SchoolsMengistu Debele Gerbi0Ambo University, Institute of Education and Behavioral Science, Department of Psychology Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations, Goal #4 calls for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. However, students with disabilities continue to face exclusionary pressures, especially in developing countries. Achieving SDGs through inclusive education requires more than just declarations of intents; it demands strong commitment to action, ensuring that policies and strategies outlined in national and international frameworks are effectively put into practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges to achieving inclusive quality education and realizing sustainable development goal #4. Quantitative research design was used, with data collected through questionnaire administered to 219 teachers across six primary schools selected by random sampling. The study examined implementation of inclusive education policy, inclusive leadership, inclusive teaching supports, and availability of educational assistive technologies. The findings revealed that the overall implementation of inclusive education policy (M = 2.56, SD = 1.06), inclusive leadership (M = 2.69, SD = 1.11), availability of assistive technology (M = 2.5, SD = 1.2), and inclusive teaching support (M = 2.80, SD = 1.24) are all low. Moreover, one-way ANOVA revealed that there is no statistically significant differences among schools regarding practice of inclusive education (F (5, 213) = 0.427, p > 0.05). In conclusion, effective implementation of policies and collaboration among all the educational stakeholders is mandatory for inclusive education and to realize SDG #4. https://213.55.101.19/index.php/EJSSD/article/view/1046Assistive technologydisabilitiesinclusionpracticeleadershipSDGs
spellingShingle Mengistu Debele Gerbi
Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development
Assistive technology
disabilities
inclusion
practice
leadership
SDGs
title Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
title_full Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
title_fullStr Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
title_full_unstemmed Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
title_short Challenges in Policy Implementation of Inclusive Quality Education and Sustainable Development Goal #4 in Ethiopian District Primary Schools
title_sort challenges in policy implementation of inclusive quality education and sustainable development goal 4 in ethiopian district primary schools
topic Assistive technology
disabilities
inclusion
practice
leadership
SDGs
url https://213.55.101.19/index.php/EJSSD/article/view/1046
work_keys_str_mv AT mengistudebelegerbi challengesinpolicyimplementationofinclusivequalityeducationandsustainabledevelopmentgoal4inethiopiandistrictprimaryschools