The reality of inclusive education programs in kindergartens in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The study aimed to identify the reality of inclusive education programs in kindergartens in Jordan. The study sample consisted of (165) governmental and private kindergartens distributed over the three regions. The results of the study indicate that no governorate enjoys providing adequate inclusive education requirements,especially the governmental ones. The lowest were found in the governorates of Irbid,Balqa and Jerash. It also indicated the small number of kindergartens that implement inclusive education in the southern governorates (Tafila,Karak,Ma'an and Aqaba). The results indicated the weakness of the physical or social facilities necessary to enroll students,especially children with vision and hearing impairment. The results also reflected the lack of specific programs used in kindergartens,which affected the effectiveness of inclusive education in some of them.
The study recommended that more efforts should be made to institutionalize inclusive education in early childhood through reviewing and amending relevant policies and legislation.