Dr Vanessa Saliba, Senior Lecturer at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) Gozo Campus, has published a peer-reviewed article in Studies in Social Wellbeing, an international open-access journal focusing on wellbeing from a social perspective.

In her article, “Support Needed by Educators Working with Students with Autism in Mainstream Primary Schools: The Maltese Perspective.” Dr Saliba highlights the importance of ensuring that educators receive adequate support when working in inclusive educational settings.

The study emphasises that educators’ experiences of inclusive education can significantly influence their attitudes towards inclusion.

Building on her previous research, which identified the need for additional resources and services and training to help educators better accommodate the needs of students with autism, Dr Saliba’s latest study reveals the importance of broader forms of support, including increased human support for educators working in mainstream classrooms.

Drawing on the study’s findings, Dr Saliba outlines a number of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening support systems for educators and enhancing the effectiveness of inclusive education.

Commenting on the research, Dr Saliba said, “it is vital that educators’ support needs are fulfilled. This will not only maintain educators’ wellbeing, but also foster the development of positive attitudes towards inclusive education and, consequently, make inclusion more effective.”

The research was fully funded through the ENDEAVOUR Scholarships Scheme.

The article can be accessed by clicking here

The full issue of Studies in Social Wellbeing is also available online

Photo: Dr Vanessa Saliba

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