News

Parents of secondary school students with acute learning difficulties can look forward to this coming school year when the Ministry of Education will implement Special Education Programmes in secondary schools across the island.

Hon. Petter Saint Jean, Minister for Education was speaking at an Early Screening and Diagnosis Workshop on Tuesday when he made that announcement.

The Minister said that those Special Education Programme will help the students to become self-sufficient.

“In the new academic year, we will see the establishment of a structured Special Education Programme for children with severe learning difficulties within secondary schools. That programme will focus on basic academic and social skills and students will be expected to do at least one practical skill that will help them to be independent.”

The Education Minister further explained that personal tutorials are part of the programme.

He said, “The staff at the Special Education Department have been working on the framework of individual plans as provided for in the Education Act of 1997. As we seek to formalize the structure, individual plans will be developed and implemented for children identified as needing Special Education Services.”

Hon.  Saint Jean further explained that a Special Education Policy is currently being outlined.

“We will be working on the adoption of an Education Policy which is already in the draft stage. Friends, as a Ministry, we continue to improve on all services for children here in the Commonwealth of Dominica; making it our priority to educate, equip and motivate our educational professionals so that we can experience improved educational outcomes for all of our children.”

According to the Education Minister, Special Education Programmes have already been implemented at the Goodwill Primary and Roseau Primary Schools.