Inclusive Education in Canada: Issues in Teacher Preparation

Inclusive education (IE) is widely adopted in Canadian educational systems. However, few Canadian universities require students in undergraduate teacher preparation programs to complete coursework on the topic of IE, and the few courses on this topic do not adequately prepare future teachers to work in inclusive classrooms with students with diverse exceptional learning needs. One potential solution to this issue of lack of adequate teacher preparation is specialized postgraduate certificate programs that offer highly specialized training on childhood disorders and the application of this knowledge to classroom-based interventions to enhance the learning experiences of children with exceptional learning needs in inclusive classrooms. Suggestions for enhancement of teacher preparation programs are provided.