Differences among Male and Female Spanish Teachers on Their Self-Perceived Preparation for Inclusive Education

Abstract

Inclusive education is a right for every student, being one of the current challenges with which the education system is struggling. The teacher’s role in this process is essential in building an inclusive and transformative school. This study aims to measure Spanish secondary school teachers’ perceptions of their preparation to address inclusive education, exploring whether there are differences concerning their gender. A total of 420 Spanish secondary school teachers responded to three dichotomous questions about their initial and ongoing preparation using the Evaluation of Teacher Education for Inclusion Questionnaire (CEFI-R). The results suggest that there are no significant differences between men and women regarding their perceived readiness to deal with diversity. However, women seem to be more confident in their competence, as they show less need for preparation in addressing the diversity of needs in their students with disabilities, and in promoting inclusive education.