EXCLUSION WITHIN INCLUSION: DISSENTING APPLICABILITY OF AI IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: CASE
OF ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY

EXCLUSION WITHIN INCLUSION: DISSENTING APPLICABILITY OF AI IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: CASE
OF ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY

MLAMBO NEFASI

DAISY CHIPFUNDE

The study sought to explore impact of ICT on PWDs. This paper provides a deeper exploration of both negative and positive attributes presented by the internet and ICT for the full participation of persons with disabilities. Whilst most scholars say accessible ICT can level the playing field for persons with disabilities across life domains including education, employment, e-governance and civic participation, financial inclusion and disaster management, this will always be a pipedream in most developing nations. Participants drawn from students with varying disabilities, student advisors and student representatives were purposively sampled. Data was collected using in depth interviews and semi structured questioners. The results showed that Exclusion and marginalisation of people living with disabilities is a fundament human rights issue. It straddles several dimensions like social, economic social, economic, political, ecological, governance as well as technological. It can be concluded that the conspired growth of ICT use in both academic and social life does not bring the same benefits to both PWDS and the mainstream population. From this, it is highly recommended that the government and other stakeholders put combined efforts to design systems which can cater for various forms of disabilities as well as taking cognisance of other variations like commodities. Additionally, policy makers and industrialists should incorporate input from people living with disabilities before implementing programs.

The Zimbabwe Open University Journal of Applied Social Sciences

2026