Public school teachers’ perceived sense of self-efficacy in teaching students with disabilities in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Teaching children with disabilities in the regular classrooms can be influenced by the teachers’ attitudes towards these children and their perception of their self-efficacy in teaching them. This study examined the regular classroom teachers’ perceived sense of teaching self-efficacy in relation to their gender and attitudes towards these children. Participants were 455 UAE public regular classroom teachers. For the study purposes, two scales were completed by teachers to investigate their attitudes towards children with disabilities, and their perceived sense of self-efficacy in teaching them. Results revealed that male teachers viewed their sense of teaching self-efficacy better than females. In all, teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion were supportive. Male teachers showed more supportive attitudes towards inclusion than females. In addition, teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion became more positive when their sense of teaching self-efficacy was greater. Teachers’ positive attitudes towards inclusion and their positively perceived sense of self-efficacy in teaching can be used as predictors of a successful inclusion.