An Exploratory Study on - Parent's Perspective on Shadow Teachers in Mainstream School

Abstract

The provision of appropriate assistance to students with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) is an essential component to inclusive education; it implies that these students will have the the opportunity to receive quality education and can reach their maximum potential. To ensure that students with special educational needs are integrated in the mainstream, schools often seek and avail the services of shadow teachers. These provisions are imperative for schools to fulfil their responsibility of providing support. Additionally, in the context of Dubai, the responsibility of employing a shadow teacher for their child rests on the parents. By conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with eight parents, this qualitative phenomenological study aims to explore and understand the experiences of parents of children with SEND in relation to the provision of shadow teachers. The themes from this study will provide insight into the experiences of parents during their personal journey that comprised of challenges and factors that contributed to their success, as well as their recommendations for improving the provision of shadow teachers. The results obtained from this research, which represent the perspectives of parents, might influence policies and practices regarding inclusive education as a whole, and the provision of shadow teachers specifically.