Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2010. / This study focuses on a vital component of the transformation process on the South African educational landscape - district based Department of Education officials. This descriptive research project had three aims. Firstly; the study determined the nature of the attitudes of Department of Education officials based at the Pinetown District towards the inclusion of learners with learning difficulties at mainstream primary schools. Secondly, the study examined the impact of nine selected demographic characteristics of district based officials on their attitudes towards inclusion. Lastly, the study determined the degree of concern that district based Department of Education officials experienced towards 10 selected factors (eg. large classes, training of educators, curriculum adaptation, extra pay for teachers, time for teacher planning) in the implementation of inclusive education at mainstream primary schools. The research instrument employed in the study was a questionnaire, which was administered to all eligible Pinetown District based officials. Ultimately, 62 respondents were recognized as the members of the sample in the study. Quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and parametric statistics. Qualitative data was content analysed to discern emerging themes. The results of the study indicated that Pinetown District based Department of Education officials generally hold positive attitudes towards the inclusion of learners with learning difficulties at mainstream primary schools. In addition the study found that the following five demographic characteristics are significant predictors of Department of Education district officials positive attitudes towards the inclusion of learners with learning difficulties at mainstream primary schools - training in special/inclusive education, contact with people with disabilities, experience in teaching learners with disabilities, knowledge of White Paper 6 (Department of Education, 2001) and the workstation of the officials. Lastly, the study concluded that district based Department of Education officials were very concerned that the 10 factors (eg. teacher workloads, provision of a support teacher, availability of resources, support of school management teams and the impact of included learner on the performance on the non-disabled learners) collectively could impede the successful implementation of inclusive education at South African schools.

Submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instructional Studies at the University of Zululand, 2008. / The present study examiners principals' knowledge about and attitudes towards inclusive education. The first aim of the study was to ascertain the extent to which principals know about inclusive education and a child with special educational needs. The second aim was to determine whether principals' biographical factors (gender, teaching experience and phase of the school) have any influence on their knowledge about inclusive education and a child with a special educational needs. The third aim was to ascertain the nature of principals' attitudes towards inclusive education. The fourth aim was to determine whether principals' biographical factors (gender, teaching experience and phase of the school) have any influence on their attitudes towards inclusive education. The last aim was to determine whether there is any relationship between principals' knowledge and attitudes regarding inclusive education. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of two hundred and twelve principals. The findings reveal that principals differ in the extent to which they know about inclusive education and a child with special educational needs. A high percentage (65.1%) of principals report a high level of knowledge about inclusive education and a child with special educational needs. The findings also show that teaching experience has an influence of principals' knowledge about inclusive education and a child with special educational needs. The findings also indicate that a high percentage (60.8%) of principals hold a positive attitude towards inclusive education. The findings further reveal that gender, teaching experience and phase of the school have no influence on principals' attitudes towards inclusive education. The last findings show that there is a positive relationship between principals' knowledge about an attitudes towards inclusive education. On the basis of the findings of this study, recommendations to the Department of Education as well as for directing future research were made.