title: Inclusive education in Fiji: pre-service and in-service primary education teachers’ perspectives and preparedness for inclusive education

authors: Singh, Deepak Sanjay

subjects: Teachers' perspectives and preparedness for Inclusive Education

abstract: Inclusive education is a recent idea of the Ministry of Education Fiji, through which they hope to provide disabled children the opportunity to receive a quality education in mainstream schools. However, are pre-service and in-service primary education teachers in Fiji sufficiently trained to take up the role of an inclusive education teacher? The international literature claims that mainstream teachers, the key people to implement inclusive education, are least prepared and are unwilling to meet the educational needs of disabled children. Is this also true for Fijian teachers? 

The aim of this research study was to gather Fijian pre-service and in-service primary education teachers’ perspectives and preparedness for inclusive education that has begun in some mainstream primary schools in Fiji and will gradually expand to other mainstream primary schools in the country. An interpretive paradigm guided the research methodology, since the purpose was to gather participants’ perspectives and consensus of how prepared they are for inclusive education. A qualitative research approach which utilised a face-to-face semi-structured interview method was used to collect data. Twelve individuals were interviewed comprising of eight final year (Year 3) pre-service primary education teachers from two teacher training institutions, together with one inclusive education and three special education in-service teachers. 

Data gathered from participants reveals that teachers have a positive attitude towards inclusive education in Fiji and are enthusiastic about taking up the role of inclusive education teacher. This positive attitude was native to the understanding that disabled children have rights to a high quality education, and secondly, it was because of the experiences they had with this group of children and adults before, during and, for some, after their initial teacher training. However, all participants also perceive they have insufficient training and limited skills to teach disabled children. In keeping with international findings, this research initiative shows that teachers’ positive attitudes weaken when they face an adverse environment such as large class size and lack of teacher support for daily teaching tasks. 

These findings indicate that all trainee teachers must receive the opportunity to learn about, observe and practice teaching this group of children during their initial teacher training, so that they graduate having adequate skills to teach disabled children. Teachers must also work towards improving their professional skills after initial training, as the data reveals there is high chance that teachers’ attitudes will deteriorate further when they address the challenges of time and classroom management.

text: Inclusive education in Fiji: pre-service and in-service primary education teachers’ perspectives and preparedness for inclusive education Inclusive education is a recent idea of the Ministry of Education Fiji, through which they hope to provide disabled children the opportunity to receive a quality education in mainstream schools. However, are pre-service and in-service primary education teachers in Fiji sufficiently trained to take up the role of an inclusive education teacher? The international literature claims that mainstream teachers, the key people to implement inclusive education, are least prepared and are unwilling to meet the educational needs of disabled children. Is this also true for Fijian teachers? 

The aim of this research study was to gather Fijian pre-service and in-service primary education teachers’ perspectives and preparedness for inclusive education that has begun in some mainstream primary schools in Fiji and will gradually expand to other mainstream primary schools in the country. An interpretive paradigm guided the research methodology, since the purpose was to gather participants’ perspectives and consensus of how prepared they are for inclusive education. A qualitative research approach which utilised a face-to-face semi-structured interview method was used to collect data. Twelve individuals were interviewed comprising of eight final year (Year 3) pre-service primary education teachers from two teacher training institutions, together with one inclusive education and three special education in-service teachers. 

Data gathered from participants reveals that teachers have a positive attitude towards inclusive education in Fiji and are enthusiastic about taking up the role of inclusive education teacher. This positive attitude was native to the understanding that disabled children have rights to a high quality education, and secondly, it was because of the experiences they had with this group of children and adults before, during and, for some, after their initial teacher training. However, all participants also perceive they have insufficient training and limited skills to teach disabled children. In keeping with international findings, this research initiative shows that teachers’ positive attitudes weaken when they face an adverse environment such as large class size and lack of teacher support for daily teaching tasks. 

These findings indicate that all trainee teachers must receive the opportunity to learn about, observe and practice teaching this group of children during their initial teacher training, so that they graduate having adequate skills to teach disabled children. Teachers must also work towards improving their professional skills after initial training, as the data reveals there is high chance that teachers’ attitudes will deteriorate further when they address the challenges of time and classroom management.

year: 2018

title: Creating and customizing digital library collections with the Greenstone Librarian Interface

authors: Witten, Ian H.

subjects: computer science

abstract: The Greenstone digital library software is a comprehensive system for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a new way of organizing information and publishing it on the Internet. This paper describes how digital library collections can be created and customized with the new Greenstone Librarian Interface. Its basic features allow users to add documents and metadata to collections, create new collections whose structure mirrors existing ones, and build collections and put them in place so for users to view. More advanced users can design and customize new collection structures. At the most advanced level, the Librarian Interface gives expert users interactive access to the full power of Greenstone, which could formerly be tapped only by running Perl scripts manually.

text: Creating and customizing digital library collections with the Greenstone Librarian Interface The Greenstone digital library software is a comprehensive system for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a new way of organizing information and publishing it on the Internet. This paper describes how digital library collections can be created and customized with the new Greenstone Librarian Interface. Its basic features allow users to add documents and metadata to collections, create new collections whose structure mirrors existing ones, and build collections and put them in place so for users to view. More advanced users can design and customize new collection structures. At the most advanced level, the Librarian Interface gives expert users interactive access to the full power of Greenstone, which could formerly be tapped only by running Perl scripts manually.

year: 2004

title: The source, composition and typology of ‘Limestone’ Adzes from Eastern North Island, New Zealand

authors: Nelson, Campbell S.

subjects: adzes

abstract: Collections of stone adzes (toki) from the eastern North Island of New Zealand include a number of typologically early (Archaic) forms made from what has been previously described as ‘siliceous or silicified limestone’. Seventy five finished adzes and preforms of this material were recorded in the present study. Their geographic distribution is primarily restricted to southern Hawkes Bay – Wairarapa, and they apparently originated from a single manufacturing centre at Owahanga, on the northern Wairarapa coast. Chemical and mineralogical analyses (by X-ray fluorescence, portable XRF, vacuum gasometry and X-ray diffraction) of two artefacts from Owahanga show they contain about 20–30 per cent CaCO3 (as calcite), while samples of the presumed local source rock have a slightly higher carbonate content but comparable silica (quartz) and Rb concentrations. The rock type used in the manufacture of adzes was therefore not a true limestone but calcareous mudstone, compositionally distinct from siliceous limestones in southern Wairarapa and probably derived from the Whangai Formation. Possible reasons for the use of this stone material are discussed.

text: The source, composition and typology of ‘Limestone’ Adzes from Eastern North Island, New Zealand Collections of stone adzes (toki) from the eastern North Island of New Zealand include a number of typologically early (Archaic) forms made from what has been previously described as ‘siliceous or silicified limestone’. Seventy five finished adzes and preforms of this material were recorded in the present study. Their geographic distribution is primarily restricted to southern Hawkes Bay – Wairarapa, and they apparently originated from a single manufacturing centre at Owahanga, on the northern Wairarapa coast. Chemical and mineralogical analyses (by X-ray fluorescence, portable XRF, vacuum gasometry and X-ray diffraction) of two artefacts from Owahanga show they contain about 20–30 per cent CaCO3 (as calcite), while samples of the presumed local source rock have a slightly higher carbonate content but comparable silica (quartz) and Rb concentrations. The rock type used in the manufacture of adzes was therefore not a true limestone but calcareous mudstone, compositionally distinct from siliceous limestones in southern Wairarapa and probably derived from the Whangai Formation. Possible reasons for the use of this stone material are discussed.

year: 2016