OPINIONS OF TEACHERS ABOUT STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Inclusive education is a process aimed to respond to the diversity of children’s needs by increasing their level of participation in learning and reducing their exclusion. This implies a number of substantial changes in terms of educational content, didactic and pedagogical approach, structure of the educational system and educational strategies. In order to effectively integrate students with special educational needs (SEN) in the physical education lesson, it is necessary for physical education and sports teachers to be familiar with the term “inclusive education”. The aim of this research is to make a correct analysis of teachers’ opinions and attitudes with regard to the integration of students with SEN in physical education lessons and to achieve a centralisation of medically exempt students in Bucharest. The research was conducted between February and June 2018 and consisted in applying a survey questionnaire among 157 physical education and sports teachers in Bucharest. The purpose was to identify their level of knowledge about inclusive physical education and to find out their opinions about the categories of students exempt from physical education classes for medical reasons and those with special educational needs in the educational establishment in which they worked. In conclusion, 98.1% of teachers have reported that they include students with SEN in physical education lessons and, due to the large number of positive responses, we can state that they are open to the new concept of inclusive education.