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Action Learning : A Case Study on Implementation - Contents
Part I
Introduction
As Disability Advisor in the Overseas
Department of Save the Children Fund, my key task is to 'lead the process of
policy development' in relation to work with disabled children in SCF's
programmes in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This is primarily a process of
learning from SCF's own experience in the field within the context of relevant
research and practice. SCF's organisational goal is to promote of the Rights of
the Child, within the context of their family and community. Strategically,
SCF's approach is to work in partnership with local communities, non-government
and government agencies, and to respond flexibly according to context. My own
perspective is as a Western (1), able-bodied professional, and a key aim of
this review is to make this perspective more overt and self-critical.
The particular focus of my research is the SCF-supported integrated primary education programme in Lesotho. This is an innovative programme which is aiming to make primary education accessible to disabled children. Its pilot phase is about to be evaluated and it may well be a model for other countries. The key questions that this review is aiming to answer are:
- What does the literature contribute to our knowledge about the education of disabled children in developing countries (2), particularly in Africa?
- In what ways does it present information or insights which will contribute positively towards the development of relevant, effective, sustainable, appropriate policy and practice?
The review begins with an overview of the main categories of relevant literature. This is followed by the main section which consists of a critique based on the extent to which existing literature is reliable, meaningful, relevant, valid, innovative and comprehensive in the light of above questions. I then present a brief discussion of an alternative approach which addresses some of the weaknesses inherent in the current literature, and conclude by discussing how the lessons learnt from this review will inform my own research. My parameters are published material on the education of disabled children in developing countries with a particular focus on Africa, unpublished material which I have access to through SCF and partner agencies, and other types of recorded information such as video, minutes of meetings, oral histories and personal communications.
Action Learning : A Case Study on Implementation - Contents
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18/03/1998