Investigating the opinions of pre-service and in-service English language teachers on inclusive education

Inclusive education (IE) is the only way to educate all students. Inclusion in all educational institutions is necessary for equality in education. Teachers, students, parents, and schools must be informed and willing to adopt IE. Policies and laws should also encourage shareholders and provide means and resources for inclusive education. Finally, as ELT involves unique strategies, resources, and tools for students with special needs, in-service and pre-service instructors' attitudes, beliefs, and expertise are crucial for inclusive education in EFL classrooms. This study examined EFL pre-service and in-service teachers' views on IE. A mixed-methods research design was utilized to perceive the perspectives of pre-service and in-service teachers on IE. Following the collection of responses from 44 participants using a 3-Likert scale questionnaire, 10 volunteers were interviewed using a semi-structured format to elicit participants' detailed perspectives. By integrating qualitative and quantitative research, the researcher aimed to gather information that would supplement the statistical data with real-world examples. The results indicated that pre-service and in-service instructors generally support IE, although some opposed including special needs pupils. Unlike pre-service teachers, some in-service instructors were hesitant to have students with special needs in their classrooms due to unfavorable attitudes and poor support from parents and management. Most participants supported inclusive education but stressed the need for faculty, administrative, and policy support, training, and instruction. This study showed that while pre-service and in-service instructors are supported in education and experience, other stakeholders should be educated and provided with policies, physical circumstances, and equipment for a better and more equitable education.