Learning capabilities of mentally challenged children in Meru South District Kenya
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Date
2008-06
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University.College of Education
Abstract
Mentally challenged children are first and foremost children with similar needs and
desires like normal children. A net work of forces, the most important of which are the
family, the school and the society in which the child lives, influences their development
and learning abilities. The impact of each of these forces changes as the child develops
and shapes also the kind of intra and interpersonal interactions of the child with people
and the environment in socialization.
The purpose of this study was to assess the learning capabilities/styles of the mentally
challenged children with the aim of proposing good instructional methods for
individualized training.
The study was carried out among the mentally challenged children in special units in
mainstream schools of Meru South District, Kenya. The study was a descriptive survey in
which mentally challenged children were sampled from identified special units. Stratified
sampling was used to obtain a finite population of children under each of the desired
subgroups referred to as categories in the study.
The data was collected by use of questionnaire administered to the teachers, face-toface interview and interaction with the children, as well as observing the children as they
carried on with their normal daily routine.
The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The null hypothesis
was tested using non-parametric test under 0.05 level of significance. Based on the
findings, the study established that mentally challenged children in the special; units in
regular schools had varied learning styles and capabilities. This however was depending
on the magnitude of the mental challenge.
Description
Research project presented to the Institute of Continuing and Distance Studies Kampala International University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Primary Education
Keywords
Learning, Capabilities, Mentally, Children, Kenya