Education is one of the basic needs that every child should have. Information communication technology has a significant influence on special needs children’s schooling. Instead of considering learning a difficult chore, the adoption of measures such as ICT can simplify it and make inclusive education a reality. Aim: This current systematic literature review aims to determine the extent of ICT adoptions in special education scenarios. Method: This paper examined pertinent literature on ICT in special education in the period 2000 to 2023. The key articles extracted through keyword search were gathered from databases indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. The collected data were then screened using a VOS viewer for the most relevant information. From the web of Science, 31 articles were found to have connections with one another while the same process when applied to the Scopus database, helped obtain 8 articles. Results: A total of 39 articles fulfilled the search inclusion criteria of minimum two keyword occurrences. These articles were all written in English and published between 2000 and 2023. The in-depth analysis of all these articles was performed along three broad themes, viz., availability of SEN based ICTs and their impact on children with disabilities, quality of available ICT integrated curriculum for SEN and the challenges in promoting ICTs for inclusive education. Conclusions: The paper concludes that ICT integration in special education would make learning easier for children with disabilities when compared to learning using traditional methods. Implications: The paper pinpoints significant limitations in ICT use found in existing literature and the lack of it to support inclusive education. The authors make recommendations for improved ICT integrated curriculum to improve inclusivity.
Work can be demanding, imposing challenges that can be detrimental to the job performance of employees. Efforts are therefore underway to develop practices and initiatives that may improve job performance and well-being. These include interventions based on mindfulness, inclusive leadership and work engagement. In the present study, authors have presented an association of inclusive leadership and mindfulness towards job performance through employee work engagement among secondary teachers in the context of Hong Kong. The sample size of 263 teachers working from three secondary schools in Sha Tin, Hong Kong has been incorporated in this study. A structured questionnaire designed on a 5-point Likert scale has been used based on purposive sampling by analysis of IBM SPSS 27 and Smart PLS version 4.0.9 by applying a structural equation modelling approach (SEM). The results indicated a strong positive influence on employee work engagement and job performance. Moreover, the bootstrap investigation showed that mindfulness and inclusive leadership were significantly associated with employees’ work engagement in the presence of mediators’ work engagement. This study adds to the very scarce literature on inclusive leadership and mindfulness. In addition, this research is the first study to test the mindfulness skill, inclusive leadership and job performance relationship. Furthermore, this is the first study to explore the concept of mindfulness and inclusive leadership in the Hong Kong context. Moreover, the findings of this research can be beneficial for future theory development on mindfulness skill and inclusive leadership in cross-cultural contexts.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) constitutes a crucial international framework that underscores the significance of inclusive education for individuals with disabilities, a vital goal for nations globally. This study seeks to examine the alignment of the recently established Saudi Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SLRPD) with the CRPD in the educational sector. The study employs a comparative analytical methodology to examine pertinent legal material and international treaties regarding inclusive education for individuals with disabilities. The findings indicate that the SLRPD substantially improves the rights of persons with disabilities by facilitating access to educational opportunities. Article 8 of the bill significantly enhances Saudi Arabia’s adherence to Article 24 of the CRPD objectives regarding inclusive education. The report emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s dedication to the ongoing evaluation and enhancement of its legal frameworks to facilitate access to educational opportunities for disabled children and youth. Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom has made significant strides in assisting those with disabilities, aligning with worldwide norms and its strategic goals. The research advises nations to intensify their initiatives for inclusive education by bolstering intersectoral collaboration, amplifying awareness activities, and cultivating relationships with international organizations. These measures will not only guarantee ongoing adherence to the CRPD but will also empower persons with disabilities to attain sustainable educational opportunities.
This study investigates the impact of digital payment infrastructure accessibility on the social influence of microenterprises in Barranquilla, Colombia, while examining the mediating roles of financial inclusion, digital literacy, social support networks, and collaboration with social innovation initiatives. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes data from a sample of 25 microenterprises operating in various sectors. The findings, based on statistical techniques such as multiple regression, path analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM), provide strong evidence for the positive influence of digital payment infrastructure accessibility on the social relationship of microenterprises. The results also highlight the crucial roles played by financial inclusion and social support networks in mediating this relationship. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on the factors driving the social effect of microenterprises and offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster inclusive economic development in the region. The findings suggest that investing in the development and expansion of digital payment systems, alongside efforts to promote financial inclusion and strengthen social support networks, can have far-reaching benefits for microenterprises and their communities.
Objective: As the scale and importance of official development assistance (ODA) continue to grow, the need to enhance the effectiveness of ODA policies has become more critical than ever before. In this context, it is essential to systematically classify recipient countries and establish tailored ODA policies based on these classifications. The objective of this study is to identify an appropriate methodology for categorizing developing countries using specific criteria, and to apply it to actual data, providing valuable insights for donor countries in formulating future ODA policies. Design/Methodology/Approach: The data used in this study are the basic statistics on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) published annually in the SDGs Report. The analytical method employed is decision tree analysis. Results: The results indicate that the 167 countries analyzed were classified into 10 distinct nodes. The study further limited the scope to the five nodes representing the most disadvantaged developing countries and suggested future directions for aid policies for each of these nodes.
Political representation is responsible for choices regarding the supply and the management of transport infrastructure, but its decisions are sometimes in conflict with the will and the general interest expressed by citizens. This situation has progressively prompted the use of specific corrective measures in order to obtain socially sustainable decisions, such as the deliberative procedures for the appraisal of public goods. The standard Stated Choice Modelling Technique (SCMT) can be used to estimate the community appreciation for public goods such as transport infrastructure; but the application of the SCMT in its standard form would be inadequate to provide an estimation that expresses the general interest of the affected community. Hence the need to adapt the standard SCMT on the basis of the operational conditions imposed by deliberative appraisal procedures. Therefore, the general aim of the paper is to outline the basic conditions on which a modified SCMT with deliberative procedure can be set up. Firstly, the elements of the standard SCMT on which to make the necessary adjustments are identified; subsequently, modifications and additions to make to the standard technique are indicated; finally, the contents of an extensive program of experimentation are outlined.
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