Exploring the effectiveness of distance learning as an alternative to mainstream education for disabled children in South Africa

Abstract

The implementation of inclusive education by the South African government has been inspired and mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While South Africa was among the first United Nations members to ratify this human rights treaty, the challenges associated with the implementation of an inclusive education are so dire that there are 600,000 children living with disabilities that are out of school, with an increasing need to identify an alternative solution to include learners living with disabilities in the education system. This study explores the extent to which distance learning bridges the learning and development gap for disabled learners who are unable to get into mainstream schools.