Educational Alternatives, Volume 17, 2019

Abstract: The present study deals with possibilities of education of children suffering from disease called cystic fibrosis. There is little research analysing how children with this disease feel, what their experience with school attendance is and what related problems there are from parent view. The study searches for answers to these questions. In order to answer research questions, the author chose qualitative research design. The data collection method used was interview with children suffering from the disease and their parents. Once the data were collected, interviews were transcribed and statements of parents and children suffering from the cystic fibrosis were coded. Coding generated these categories: teachers and child’s disease, dealing with school duties, school absence, children’s popularity within their peer group and children’s school satisfaction. One of the findings of the research, among others, was the fact that the biggest problems of children were caused by cough and frequent time consuming inhaled therapy. Results also reveal that children also felt limited in education. They could not perform certain school activities. In her study, the author analyses these and other acquired categories. In spite of constantly improving treatment conditions, cystic fibrosis remains an incurable disease, which affects quality of education of young school-age children to a large extent. Especially teachers working with these children should take this fact into consideration.