Psycho-Social Determinants of Learning Disabilities of Special Need Students in Inclusive Secondary Schools in Ekiti State (Published)
The study examined the psycho-social determinants of learning disabilities of special need students in inclusive schools in Ekiti State. The descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted for this study. The population for this study comprised of all students in inclusive schools in Ekiti State and a total of 400 students were selected from inclusive schools across Ekiti State using purposive sampling procedure. An instrument titled “Psycho-Social Determinants of Learning Disabilities Questionnaire (PDLDQ)” was used to collect of data for the study. The instrument was validated by various experts using the face and content validity. For the reliability of the instrument, test-retest method was employed which yield a reliability coefficient of 0.80. The data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics. The study also revealed significant positive relationship between mental health challenges, cultural factors, self-concept, executive functioning, technological access and learning disabilities of special need students. The study therefore concluded that psycho-social determinants significantly influence of learning disabilities of special need students in inclusive schools in Ekiti State.The study recommended that schools should integrate mental health support services, including on-site counselors, psychologists, and social-emotional learning programs, specifically designed to address the psychological needs of students with learning disabilities. Also, educational institutions should adopt culturally responsive teaching practices and should provide explicit instruction in executive functioning skills, including organizational strategies, time management techniques, and study skills, along with structured support systems such as visual schedules and task organizers for special need students. Educational authorities should ensure equitable distribution of assistive technologies and digital learning tools to all special need students.
Keywords: Learning disabilities, inclusive secondary schools, psycho – social, special need students