Inclusive Education: Challenges of Students with Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education in Namibia

Education institutions in Namibia, as narrated and illustrated by themselves. Mixed methodologies, with specific reference to a small-scale quantitative survey and extensive qualitative design were employed as tools to understand the prevalence, extent and nature of challenges of students with disabilities in their pursuance of higher education in Namibia. Data was thus collected in two phases. The first phase consisted of a ten-item quantitative-survey which was largely used to determine the prevalence of students with disabilities in higher education institutions, and basic information regarding institutional standpoints pertaining to students with disabilities. Data acquired through this survey confirmed the prevalence of students with disabilities in Namibian higher education institutions.The second phase represented the qualitative design whereby data was collected through three main methodologies namely a narrative diary-based approach, a photo-voice and individual interviews. These methodologies ensured reliability of the data through triangulation.

C.K.Haihambo was born in Katutura. Ms.Ya-Otto obtained a Bachelor of Education(Honours) from the University of Namibia in 1994,a Maters in Philosophy of Special Education at the University of Oslo in 1996 an Advanced Certificate in HIV and AIDS and Education from the University of the Western Cape in 2006 and a Doctor in Education in 2010 at UNISA