Challenges Encountered by Students with Visual Impairment in the Exclusion of Mathematics Education

Abstract

The integration of students with visual impairment in learning mathematics in school constitutes one of the major challenges in Ethiopia. Most of the educational curriculum is oriented towards the use of the eyesight. To give insight into the situations of challenges faced by blind/visually impaired students due to the exclusion of mathematics education. The study employed a qualitative research approach and purposive sampling technique. From 25 participants 15 of them participated in an interview and 10 participated in focus group discussion guided by semi-structured instruments. Interviews focus group discussion and the key informant interview was employed to get relevant and sufficient data. Accordingly, the thematic data analysis procedure delineated was used. The study was carried out at Sidist kilo campus in Addis Ababa University. Multifaceted challenges encountered by blind/visual impaired students due to the exclusion of math education. Individual’s attitudinal or institutional barriers, the existing exclusive curriculum and the use of assistive technology could be an impediment to learn mathematics and its related fields. The result confirmed that the majority of the participants revealed that due to the exclusion of learning mathematics, they are encountered with marginalization from different fields at the university. Ministry of education, the regional educational bureau, schools, and teachers will consistently implement a dependable inclusive for mathematics education and provision of necessary support for the needs of blind students in learning mathematics.