Exploring Hungarian teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education of SEN students

The purpose of the current study is to identify Hungarian teachers' perceptions of special educational needs (SEN) and to explore their teaching practices in relation to ICT tools involved in classes with both SEN and typically developing students. A hypothesized model was developed and tested based on the relevant literature to map the relations of the variables. The research was conducted among primary and secondary school teachers (N = 121) using an adapted version of the Audit of provision for students with special educational needs self-evaluation scale (Stack, 2007), which was rounded out with ICT issues and background data on teachers' knowledge of SEN practices acquired at university. A path analysis showed significant links between the teaching- and learning-related factors on the scale. We also observed significant relationships between ICT variables, but the effect between the two factors is rather limited. The quality of curriculum provision is the only significant factor which has a significant effect on using ICT teaching material. Our model also highlighted that teachers’ knowledge of SEN acquired at university represents a determining factor in using ICT tools in SEN education. Teacher trainees who acquire comprehensive knowledge in their university education courses on teaching SEN students possess more profound skills to deal with them and possess higher-level competences in using ICT in their teaching practice. This study demonstrates that teaching SEN students in an integrated education system poses unique challenges; therefore, it is a relevant topic and an issue to be addressed. Our hope is that the results from this study will be useful in the future for schools and teachers educating students with special educational needs and that the findings will improve the overall understanding of inclusive education among schools and teachers.