Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and special education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A case study

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to study the current information and communication technology (ICT) in special education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and reveal its issues. This research was conducted by the ministry of education (MOE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and University of Hail. A qualitative approach was used to reveal the issues of information and communication technology and the special education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research was carried out by direct observations of a focus group, conducted during one-to-one sessions. The multiple case-study approach was adopted to increase the reliability of data, with the help of a team of researchers and tutors to reduce bias. In this study we have randomly selected 4 public secondary schools for boys having special education classes in Hail region in the KSA. In this study 50 special students 11 to 15 years old, 10 special educators and 4 special education administrators participated. Study revealed that special students (focused group) are facing huge amount of problems during their study and the ICT is not being used in full extent to help them to get education in order to live independently in future life. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.