Peer Support and Social Skills of Pupils with Special Needs in Ilorin South, Kwara State

Abstract

Support is a regular need among all humans irrespective of their background, social status or race. Among school children this is not an exemption. There are some peculiar set of pupils whose need for support from their peers and other people around them is more pronounced and justifiable. These are the pupils with special needs. This study therefore examined the influence of peer support on the social skills of pupils with special needs. A survey research design was adopted in the study. 50 pupils with varied special needs were purposively selected from 13 regular schools within the geographical scope of the study. Two instruments titled “Checklist on Peer Support for Children with Special Needs” (0.71) and Rating Scale on the Social Skills of Children with Special Needs (0.76) were used for data collection which was analyzed using regression analysis. Result of the study revealed that there is a significant influence of peer support on the social skills of pupils with special needs particularly their friendship ability, tolerance, self-esteem and communication skills. In other words, there is a strong positive connection between peer support and the social skills of pupils with special needs. It was thus recommended that teachers in the inclusive classroom should endeavor to encourage the regular pupils to give support to their peers with special needs. Also, teachers should provide special needs pupils with a peer supporter by involving them in group play, assignments and projects.