Education Ministry intervenes in case of disabled student denied school registration

The Ministry of Education says it the wheelchair-bound student, Alex Fraser, who was turned away from Meadowbrook High School will be accommodated at Jamaica College.

The decision comes after his mother expressed anger and disappointment that she was unable to register Alex at his school of choice from the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) because the school indicated that it does not have the facilities to accommodate a special-needs student.

Alex, who was a student of the Dunrobin Primary School in St Andrew, scored 92 for mathematics, 85 for science, 86 for social studies and 81 for Language Arts and 10 out of 12 for Communication Task.

Questions have been raised why the education ministry placed him to a high school that lacks facilities for disabled students.

The ministry explains that presently the placement of students in public high schools does not usually identify a child with a special need unless there is a notation on the registration form ahead of the sitting GSAT.

According to the ministry, over the years it has facilitated adequate placement for students with special needs once the results are published and the nature of the disability is identified.

The education ministry says the Government is committed to empowering the disabled community.

What has the education ministry done to special needs students?

*125 primary schools and 33 high schools across the island are already accessible to students with physical disabilities.

*Access includes ramps, rails, and wheelchair accessible bathrooms.

*The Ministry has allocated 50 million for this financial year to make 171 more schools special needs friendly, $5.7 million has already been allocated to 14 schools.

*In 2017, the Government stepped up its programme to retrofit all primary and secondary schools across the island with lifts and ramps to improve access by persons with disabilities. This is part of the Government's commitment to supporting State-owned and -aided special education schools and units across the island.

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