Jurnal Kependidikan: Jurnal Hasil Penelitian dan Kajian Kepustakaan di Bidang Pendidikan, Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2026): September (IN PRESS)

From Policy to Practice: Exploring Inclusive School Culture in Vocational Education through the Index for Inclusion

Nur Hidayat (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Miftahul Alam Al Waro’ (BPSDM Pertahanan, Ministry of Defense, Jakarta)
Rifqi Minchatul ‘Ulya (UIN Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study aims to explore inclusive school culture through a vocationally adapted Index for Inclusion framework, focusing on multistakeholder perspectives and the factors shaping inclusive practices in vocational school settings. Employing a qualitative case study design at a vocational high school (SMK) in Surabaya, Indonesia, the study applies an Index for Inclusion framework extended with a fourth dimension, Vocational Accessibility & Transition Readiness (VATR), which integrates vocational pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning, and a school-to-work transition framework. Ten stakeholders were purposively selected using a maximum variation sampling strategy. Data were collected through triangulation of semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, using an instrument developed from the operationalization of 24 Index for Inclusion sub-indicators. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis with a deductive–inductive approach. Based on scores across 12 core Index for Inclusion indicators, the findings showed an overall inclusion attainment of only 41.67%, characterized by covert selectivity, a 1:12 special education teacher (GPK)-to-student ratio, inaccessible infrastructure, and declining academic expectations. Notably, a gap emerged between teachers’ strength-based perceptions of students with disabilities and the exclusionary experiences reported by the students themselves, indicating that students’ vocational potential is evident but remains systemically unsupported. This study proposes a Vocational Universal Design for Learning (V-UDL) framework to reconcile industry standardization with inclusive differentiation, while strengthening the VATR dimension as a policy foundation for strength-based major placement, improved special education teacher ratios, and the development of inclusive vocational learning modules at the SMK level.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jurnalkependidikan

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

Jurnal Kependidikan: Jurnal Hasil Penelitian dan Kajian Kepustakaan di Bidang Pendidikan, Pengajaran, dan Pembelajaran (JK) contains scientific articles from research in Education, Teaching and Learning which include : 1. Formal/School Education 2. Nonformal/Community Education 3. Informal/Family ...