This study examines the challenges that general education teachers face in implementing inclusive education for students with intellectual disabilities in Qatar. Employing a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected from 255 teachers via a structured questionnaire, complemented by qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with five participants. The findings indicate that teachers encounter moderate to high levels of difficulty, particularly in areas related to the school environment and the availability of educational resources. Significant demographic differences were observed, with male teachers and those working in primary schools reporting greater perceived barriers. Thematic analysis revealed six key factors influencing teachers’ perceptions: student diversity, instructional practices, teacher preparedness, school culture and environment, family and community involvement, and logistical challenges. Despite national policy support for inclusive education, the study reveals ongoing deficits in teacher training, institutional backing, and resource provision. These findings underscore the complex intersection of individual, institutional, and societal factors shaping inclusive education efforts. The study offers valuable insights for localizing inclusive education efforts in Qatar and similar contexts, with implications for educators, policymakers, and educational leaders committed to fostering equitable learning environments.

Inclusive education has emerged as a growing national priority in Qatar, reflecting both international obligations and the strategic goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Despite this commitment, the effective implementation of inclusive practices remains constrained by persistent challenges encountered by general education teachers. This study examines the nature and extent of these challenges and investigates the impact of teacher demographic variables on inclusive teaching practices. Employing a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 203 teachers through a validated survey instrument, while qualitative insights were gathered via structured interviews with five general education teachers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 29 for quantitative analysis and ATLAS.ti 25 for thematic interpretation. The findings indicated a moderate level of challenges across cognitive, administrative, psychological, and social domains. Notably, no statistically significant differences were observed in teacher demographics. Thematic analysis revealed two central themes: enhancing inclusive education and promoting social integration. By foregrounding the experiences of general education teachers, this study addresses a critical gap in the literature. It underscores the need for sustained professional development, curricular adaptation, and institutional support to bridge the disconnect between inclusive policy frameworks and classroom realities.

Exceptionally talented refugee students are often underrepresented in allocating to gifted programs because of inadequate identification methods in Arab countries. This study investigates the Arabic version of the Having Opportunities Promotes Excellence (HOPE) Scale for identifying gifted refugee students. Students ( n = 13,598) from refugee camp schools in Jordan were surveyed in the 2020/2021 academic year. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers ( n = 423) completed the translated Arabic version of the HOPE Scale, measuring 11 items on the academic and social construct of giftedness. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an excellent fit; however, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis results revealed that the scale needed more invariance across groups. The results suggest that although the HOPE Scale-Arabic version has sufficient validation evidence, careful consideration is required when applying it to different subgroups of refugee students. Constructs of cultural relevance may need to be added to better assess the item’s validity.

This qualitative study aimed to analyze educational services offered in Jordanian schools to identify gifted Syrian refugee students. To do that, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with school principals and educational supervisors. Participants were asked open-ended questions about educational practices used with Syrian students inside refugee camps and northern cities in Jordan. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive coding analytical strategies. Results show that gifted identification services provided for Syrians students are insufficient and weak. The results also showed that school principals and educational supervisors have positive trends toward providing gifted education services. However, they suffer from a range of administrative and legislative problems that limit their ability to provide appropriate services to students. Finally, these results provide a comprehensive analysis for educators in Jordan to develop higher quality identification procedures for gifted Syrian refugees’ students.

This study aimed to evaluate educational services offered for Syrian gifted refugee students in Jordanian schools from the point of view of schools’ principals or educational supervisors. The researchers extracted validity and reliability indicators from the Arabic translated form of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) standards. 72 schools were evaluated in terms of the use, importance, and availability of the four gifted education standards: identification, curriculum, programs, and professional development. The findings showed that there are differences in the numbers of gifted Jordanian students compared with Syrian students enrolled in gifted programs in Jordanian schools. Moreover, there is a gap between types of gifted educational programs and services provided in the schools inside and outside the refugee camps. The findings also showed that the overall gifted education services provided for Syrian gifted refugee students were low with an average of 2.34 for the use, 2.15 for the importance, and 2.44 for the availability of these practices. Finally, suggestions and recommendations are provided to develop the gifted educational services in these schools.