University of New England The National Special Needs Education Policy Framework (2009) of Kenya: Its Impact on Teachers’ Instructional Design and Practice in Inclusive Classrooms in Kenya Rose Njoki Mutuota A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2019 Statement of Sources I certify that the substance of this thesis has not already been submitted for any degree and is not currently being submitted for any other degree qualification. I certify that any help received in preparing this thesis, and all sources used, have been acknowledged in this thesis. Rose Njoki Mutuota Signature Date: 27/08/2019 ii Table of Contents Table of Contents Statement of Sources ........................................................................................................ii Table of Contents............................................................................................................. iii Table of Figures ............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ................................................................................................................. viii Dedication ....................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... x Abstract ......................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter 1 .........................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................1 The impact of colonisation on the Kenyan education system ..................................................... 2 Post-colonisation ..................................................................................................................... 2 Neoliberalism .......................................................................................................................... 3 Positionality: Locating the researcher and the research ............................................................. 3 The complexities and advantages of being an insider or outsider ............................................ 10 Research Topic ....................................................................................................................... 12 Aim of the Research ............................................................................................................... 13 Research Questions................................................................................................................ 13 Assumptions .......................................................................................................................... 14 Definition of terms used in this thesis ..................................................................................... 15 Thesis overview ..................................................................................................................... 16 Reading this thesis ................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................... 19 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 19 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 19 Policy Borrowing .................................................................................................................... 20 Colonisation........................................................................................................................... 21 Neoliberalism ........................................................................................................................ 25 Neoliberalism discourse ......................................................................................................... 26 The context and history of the development of inclusive education in Kenya ........................... 38 Policy implementation ........................................................................................................... 47 Implementation of inclusive education policy worldwide ........................................................ 51 iii Challenges facing the government in the implementation of inclusive education policy in Kenya .............................................................................................................................................. 54 Chapter 3........................................................................................................................ 60 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 61 Theoretical frameworks ......................................................................................................... 61 Phase 1 .................................................................................................................................. 61 Universal Design for Learning ................................................................................................. 61 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 66 The overarching questions .........................................................................................................................66 Case study....................................................................................................................................................66 Data analysis ...............................................................................................................................................76 Classroom observations analysis ...............................................................................................................77 Phase 2 .................................................................................................................................. 80 Unravelling Colonialism ............................................................................................................................80 African/Gīkūyū Framework ......................................................................................................................80 Overview of the Gīkūyū framework..........................................................................................................80 Gīkūyū ontology and axiology ...................................................................................................................83 Gīkūyū epistemology ..................................................................................................................................83 Indigeneity and colonialism .......................................................................................................................87 Postcolonial theory .....................................................................................................................................91 Neoliberalism ..............................................................................................................................................93 Phase 2: Iterative interviews ......................................................................................................................93 Chapter 4...................................................................................................................... 105 RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH USING A WESTERN METHODOLOGY ................................... 105 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 105 Description of research participants ..................................................................................... 105 Teachers.....................................................................................................................................................105 Principals .....................................................................................................................................................93 Key Findings .............................................................................................................................................107 Themes ................................................................................................................................ 110 Policy enactment: The National Special Needs Education Policy Framework 2009 .................. 111 Enrolment ..................................................................................................................................................113 Inclusive education ...................................................................................................................................116 Professional Development (PD) ...............................................................................................................117 Inclusive instructional practices