Reframing Ta’dib for Inclusive Early Childhood Education: A Moral–Philosophical Approach Based on Al-Attas

Abstract

This study reconceptualises the concept of ta’dib in the educational thought of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas and examines its relevance to contemporary early childhood education, particularly within the framework of inclusive education. While current early childhood paradigms are largely shaped by developmental and child-centred approaches, they often underemphasise moral formation and the philosophical foundations of education.Using a qualitative methodology based on textual and thematic analysis of primary and secondary sources, this study explores ta’dib as a comprehensive framework that integrates knowledge, moral values and the formation of the human person through the cultivation of adab.The findings indicate that ta’dib extends beyond pedagogical practice and offers a value-based orientation that recognises the dignity, diversity and developmental uniqueness (fitrah) of every child. From this perspective, inclusive education is not merely a technical or policy-driven approach but a moral responsibility grounded in the recognition of human dignity and the proper place of individuals within the order of existence.This study contributes to the field by bridging Islamic educational philosophy with contemporary inclusive education discourse, proposing ta’dib as a holistic framework for nurturing equitable, meaningful and morally grounded early childhood education.