International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews

International Journal of Education Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 946-956, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Inclusive education and policy in Saudi Arabia

Abdallelh Alharbi¹ and Abdullah Madhesh²

¹The Victoria Institute for Educational Research and Studies at Victoria University.

²Shaqra University.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Accepted 16 December, 2017

Abstract

This paper investigates how Saudi Arabia supports inclusive education by closely examining its policy and legislative frameworks. By exploring what is meant by ‘right’s, ‘integration’ and ‘inclusion’ this article provides a critical perspective on Saudi educational policy and its lack of effectiveness in the school systems. Employing a modified version of Bacchi’s ‘What Problem is Represented?’ (WPR) approach, this study looks behind the policy itself and concludes that while Saudi Arabia’s policy and legislation is consistent with international policy and human rights legislation, there is much work to be done before inclusive education is achieved in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: Inclusive education, inclusion, special education, educational policy, Bacchi’s (WPR), Saudi Arabia.