Volume : 7, Issue : 5, May - 2018

A Critical Analysis on Expanded Core Curricular Skills and Academic Achievement of Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage

Dr. D. Nirupalini, Dr. G. Victoria Naomi

Abstract :

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:&#10;justify;line-height:150%;tab-stops:63.8pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;&#10;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Expanded core curriculum (ECC) addresses the essential areas and experiences unique only to visually impaired persons. The present study is about the level and extent of acquisition of expanded core curricular skills by the visually impaired students studying in Inclusive Education at Secondary Stage. This study is descriptive survey in nature. The sample comprised of 120 students, both boys and girls belonging to class IX to XII. There were 70 students with Blindness and 50 were in the category of Low vision. The major areas of ECC Skills were Academic Skills, Career Education, Independent Living Skills, Orientation and Mobility Skills and Application of Technology. There are sub skills in each major area and it was measured and assessed by the investigator with the help of specific devices and techniques. The investigator developed assessment package for each component skill and it has to be completed in 3 minutes. For academic achievement, the Quarterly and Half yearly mark statements were collected to find out the relationship between their acquisition of ECC Skills and Academic Achievement. The statistical techniques such as Mean &plusmn;0.5 SD classification, t-test, ANCOVA, Correlation coefficient and Regression analysis were used. The results revealed nearly 70% blind and low vision students acquired ECC skills. ECC skills had significant influence on the Academic Achievement of students. Hence, the present study stands evidence that ECC skills are pivotal for learning of general education curriculum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>