Abstract
The primary objective of inclusive education policy is to guarantee fair and impartial opportunities for all students to get a high standard of education, encompassing individuals with varying needs and capabilities. With this, this research investigates the challenges and success stories of schools through the school heads in the implementation of inclusive education policies within the Department of Education (DepEd), as perceived by school administrators. The respondents of this study are the 17 public school heads within the Alamada West District, Alamada, Cotabato. Moreover, this study primarily aims to ascertain the primary obstacles encountered by school administrators while implementing inclusive education policies, to reveal instances of successful implementation that exemplify effective techniques and exemplary approaches, and to offer suggestions for enhancing the implementation of inclusive education. A qualitative study design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with school administrators from various educational contexts within the Department of Education (DepEd) system. The findings of the thematic analysis identified three prominent themes for each research question 1 (strategies and best practices implementing the policy): catering all types of learners, stakeholders’ support and differentiated instruction; 2 (challenges): budgetary limitations, the necessity for teacher training, and parental assistance as primary obstacles; and 3 (success stories): heightened rates of student enrollment, the cultivation of values among kids, and enhanced academic performance. In light of the aforementioned findings, this study offers suggestions for effectively tackling obstacles and facilitating the successful implementation of inclusive education. These recommendations encompass ensuring sufficient financial resources, allocating resources towards teacher training initiatives, cultivating partnerships with parents and stakeholders, and replicating successful inclusive practices. The study highlights the significance of tackling obstacles while utilizing examples of achievement to establish inclusive educational settings that enable all students to thrive.