Gov’t to ensure access to education for persons with special needs

The Government, through the Ministry of Education and Youth, is looking to redouble efforts to ensure that all persons with special needs have access to education.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says this is in keeping with his administration’s efforts to promote greater inclusivity.

“No child should be denied access to education because of any need that they may have that is not considered to be within the normal range. [We must] redouble the efforts to find those persons out there; the budgetary allocation is there and the provisions are there to reach out to them and support them,” he said.

The prime minister was addressing students, staff and parents at Hope Valley Experimental School in St Andrew, while visiting during Monday’s September 2 start of the 2024/25 academic year.

Holness said his understanding of the thrust in relation to the Education Policy is, “to as far as possible, integrate students with special needs into the mainstream education sector”, emphasising that, “we will continue along that path”.

He maintained that, to facilitate this, education must be structured in a way to cater to the varying needs of students.

“We understand that there is growing awareness amongst parents, teachers and, generally, the society about the need for inclusiveness for persons with disabilities and special needs, and inclusiveness is not to set them apart. It is not to treat them specially.

“The inclusiveness is to accept that we are not all the same. We are not all going to learn at the same pace. We have different needs, and the system must adjust to the needs that the population presents,” the prime minister emphasised.

Noting that the Government makes provisions annually for special needs interests, Holness said this signals the administration’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity across the sector.

“The Government is making in its Budget every year, significant allocations – $3 billion… to [treat] with students with special needs,” he further stated.

This, Holness said, includes developing special programmes and materials for learning.

“We have special schools that we sponsor, sometimes [paying] 100 per cent of fees [in some cases]; and now, we have been paying for shadows and teaching support for students who need that individual support for learning,” he stated.

JIS