An analysis of Teachers' attitudes towards learners with learning disabilities: A case of Nampundwe Secondary School Lusaka Province, Zambia

The purpose of the study was to establish the attitudes of regular teachers towards learners with learning disabilities at Nampundwe Secondary School.
A Case study design was deployed in which self- administered questionnaires, semi structured interview guides and observation checklists were used to collect data from a sample of 82 participants. The respondents consisted of 50 learners with learning disabilities, 16 regular teachers and 16 parents of learners with learning disabilities..
From the study findings, it was established that regular teachers had negative attitudes towards learners with learning disabilities. The effects of teachers’ negative attitudes included; poor classroom participation/ performance, poor teacher - pupil relationship, low self - esteem, resentment and fear towards their teachers, teachers not seen as role models, and learners were rarely guided on career choice.
Among the interventions established were; teacher training in Special Education, administrative support, small class sizes, regular teachers working in collaboration with school counselors and also working in collaboration with parents of learners with learning disabilities. These interventions may help regular teachers in changing their attitudes towards these learners.Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; The Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education should include Special Education in the curriculum from grades 1-12 . This will help to change the negative mindset of regular teachers, schools should also ensure that in every Continuous Professional Development (CPD) meetings and workshops, Special Education should be discussed intensively so as to help regular teachers to understand learners with learning disabilities.