Analysys of the Knowledge and Skills of Mainstream Teachers in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for Working With Visually Impaired Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59519/mper5005Keywords:
visually impaired students, mainstream teachers, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, training, assistive technologies, inclusive educationAbstract
This study aims to analyze the knowledge and skills of mainstream teachers in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for working with visually impaired students. The study is based on a survey conducted among teachers who work with visually impaired students in mainstream schools in the three countries. The survey aims to identify the level of knowledge and skills of teachers in the areas of visual impairment, teaching strategies, and assistive technologies.
The study found that mainstream teachers in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have limited knowledge and skills in working with visually impaired students. The findings of the study highlight the need for a systematic approach to providing training and support to mainstream teachers in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results of this study have implications for policymakers, educators, and researchers who are working towards creating an inclusive education system that caters to the needs of all students, including visually impaired students. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the education of visually impaired students in the Balkan region and emphasizes the importance of mainstream teachers’ role in creating an inclusive education system.
References
1. Acedo, C. Inclusive education: pushing the boundaries, Prospects, 38,2008,pp.5-13. Retrieved from: http://www.etf.europa.eu/webatt.nsf/0/C12578310056925BC125772E002CAB00/$file/NOTE 85SBJV.pdf
2. Ajdinski G. The Role of the Special Teacher in the Process of Inclusion in the Regular Primary Schools. J Spec Educ Rehab 2007; 8(1-2):5-14.
3. Ajdinski, L. (2018). REALIZATION OF INTEGRATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. [online] Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation. Available at: http://jser.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/index.php/
journalarchive/230-2004/2004-1-2-articles/1986-realization-of-integration-of-children-with-specialneeds-education-in-the-republic-of-macedonia [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016].152
4. Anđić, B. (2015). Inkluzivno obrazovanje u Republici Srpskoj: Formalna osnova i praksa. Avaliable at: http://personapsiho.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Andjic-B.-2015.- Inkluzivno-obrazovanje-u-Republici-Srpskoj-formalna-osnova-i-praksa.pdf
5. Boškovska, R. et al. (2018). Inkluzivno učilište: Vodič za rabota na učilišniot inkluziven tim. Skopje: Biro za razvoj na obrazovanieto.
6. Brojčin, B. (2016). Pravilnik o bližim uputstvima za utvrdživanje prava na individualni obrazovni plan, njegovu primenu I vrednovanje. Avaliable at: http://www.fasper.bg.ac.rs/do2016/nastavnici/Brojcin_Branislav/predavanja/2015-16/20160120_3-IEP%20DRUGI%20deo%202016.pdf
7. Cattoni, A., Cramerotti, S., Ianes, D. (2017). Drafting the Individualized Education Plan for Students with Special Educational Needs: How Semantic Web Technology Can Help the Teachers. J Child Dev Disord. Trento: Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson. 3:22. doi: 10.4172/2472- 1786.100059 Child Rights Information Network, (2009). Guide to Non-Discrimination and the CRC, Article 2. England: Child Rights Information Network. Avaliable at: https://www.crin.org/docs/CRC_Guide.pdf
8. Contardi, A, and Gherardini, P. (2003) Together at school: mainstream school in Italy, from kindergarten to high school. Down Syndrome News and Update, 3(1), 11-15. doi:10.3104/dsupdate.208
9. Dimitrova R, D., & Čičevska J, N. (2016). Individual educative plans for pupils with special educative needs.
10. Avaliableat:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270684168_INDIVIDUAL_EDUCATIVE_PLAN_F OR_PUPILS_WITH_SPECIAL_EDUCATIVE_NEEDS
11. Dixon S. (2005). Inclusion- Not segregation or integration is where a student with special needs belongs. Journal of Educational Thought, 39(1), 33-35 153
12. Dizdarevič, A., Vantič T, M., & Nikolič, M. (2010). Inclusive education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mar. 2010, Volume 7, No.3 (Serial No.64) US-China Education Review, ISSN 1548-6613, USA
13. Jessup, G.; Bundy, A.C.; Broom, A.; Hancock, N. (2017) The social experiences of high school students with visual impairments. J. Vis. Impair. Blind. 111, 5–19
14. Hess, I. (2010) visually impaired pupils in mainstream schools in Israel: Quality of life and other associated factors. Br. J. Vis. Impair. 28, 19–33.
15. Nussbaum, Martha. 2007. “Education for world citizenship needs to begin early.” Early Childhood Matters 1(5): 15-19.
16. Valentine, Fraser. 2001. Enabling citizenship: Full inclusion of children with disabilkities and their parents. Ottawa: Canadian Policy Research Networks.
17. Freiler, Christa. 2002. Understanding social inclusion. Toronto: The Laidlaw Foundation.
18. Hornby, G. (2015). Inclusive special educaon: Development of a new theory for the education of children with special educaonal needs and disabiliEs. Brish Journal
19. UN Commitee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), General comment No. 20. 4 (2016), Article 24: Right to inclusive education, 2 September 2016, CRPD/C/GC/4 https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c977e34.html
21. Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (2005). The influence of attitudes on behavior. In D. Albarracín, B. T. Johnson, & M. P. Zanna (Eds.), The handbook of attitudes (pp. 173-221). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
22. Booth, T., & Ainscow, M. (2002) Index for inclusion: Developing learning and participation in schools (2nd ed.). Bristol, UK: Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education.
23. Konza, D. (2008). Inclusion of students with disabilities in new times: Responding to the challenge. In P. Kell, W. Vialle, D, Konza, & G. Vogl (Eds.), Learning and the learner: exploring learning for new times, (pp. 39–64). Wollongong, AU: University of Wollongong.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Azur Kuduzović, Aleksandra Jakovchevska, Klimentina Gjorshovksa, Anita C. Dimitrievska, Radmila Vidović, Svetlana Vučković (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
