“I am not a caregiver!” Experiences and Views of Paraeducators about Their Roles and Responsibilities
Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, cilt.13, sa.2, ss.448-464, 2024 (TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 13 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Dergi Adı: Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Index Copernicus, Sobiad Atıf Dizini
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.448-464
- Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The participation of paraeducators in education is a new topic discussed in Turkey. The roles and responsibilities of paraeducators vary depending on the school and class, and in some cases, there are differences in the job descriptions of paraeducators even working in the same school. In Turkey, there is a lack of legal regulations concerning the involvement of paraeducators in inclusive classrooms. This study was considered necessary with the objective of offering valuable insights to decision makers, administrators, practitioners, and academicians in order to develop job descriptions for paraeducators, establish employment conditions, define their qualifications, design educational content, and plan legal regulations related to these processes. The aim of the study is to determine the experiences and opinions of paraeducators working in inclusive settings. In this study, the experience and opinions of paraeducators were examined, and recommendations were made accordingly. A phenomenological design was used in this study, and semistructured interviews were held with 15 paraeducators working in the field of special education. The data analysis involved a thorough examination of information obtained through semi-structured interviews, employing a systematic content analysis method. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) preservice, (b) experience and views about roles and responsibilities, (c) needs, and (d) recommendations. The findings highlighted the importance of clarifying the roles and responsibilities of paraeducators. In addition, the importance of providing professionals with training, employment, and job security was emphasized.