ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGHER SECONDARY STUDENTS IN NORMAL AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS

The study is aimed to investigate and compare the academic achievement in the subjects with and without disabilities. The cluster sampling method was used to select 300 higher secondary students from 12 normal schools and 300 higher secondary students from 8 special schools (schools for vision and hearing impaired). Marks scored in the half yearly examination were used as measures of academic achievement. The results demonstrated that the academic achievement of higher secondary students of normal schools was always better than that of their counterparts in special schools. Moreover, the female higher secondary students of normal schools have more academic achievement than their male counterparts. However, no significance difference was found in anxiety of higher secondary students in special schools in terms of age, gender and locality of residence. The results suggested that inclusive education will enhance academic achievement of special students.