AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

Attitudes of educators towards children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

by Busisiwe Nokukhanya Ntuli




Institution: University of Zululand
Department:
Year: 2014
Keywords: ADHD ; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder  – educators knowledge and attitudes
Record ID: 1450008
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1333


Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate educators’ knowledge and attitudes towards children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In particular the study sought: 1. To determine the level of educators knowledge and attitudes about ADHD 2. To ascertain whether or not is a significant difference in attitude between educators in the mainstream school and those in the resource centre (remedial school);and 3. To determine the relationship, if any, between educators’ perceptions of ADHD children and certain educators’ characteristics discussed further in the study. In this study, the focus was on primary school learners. Primary school learners are learners who are between grades one and seven. The target population was primary school educators in a mainstream school and in a resource centre. Sixty nine educators were divided into two groups:48 educators taught at a mainstream school (Group 1) and 21 educators teach at a resource center (remedial school) and deal with ADHD cases regularly (Group 2).A questionnaire was given to each responded as a method of data collection instrument. xiv The study concludes that mainstream education for ADHD children (with individualized education if necessary) causes considerable difficulty for all concerned. The educators’ attitudes towards ADHD children were far from ideal, and their knowledge is insufficient. One interesting finding from this study was that knowledge of Special Education seems to have a positive influence on the educators’ attitude towards learners with ADHD.