A SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSES

Background

The Special Needs Classes was established in 2008. It has two (2) stream classrooms with a total number of nineteen (19) children with intellectual disabilities; fourteen (14) are male while five (5) are female. There are three (3) special teachers in the school with one (1) attendant.

As the normal practice in some other special schools in the country, the Special Needs Classes lack the necessary play and development materials for the children including appropriate chairs and tables. Further, the two classes have no electricity and most parents find it very difficult to send their children with intellectual disability to the school due to

1.     The nature of the school and

2.     Discrimination attitude of some taxi drivers to pick their children to and from school.

Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of government of all countries to ensure that children with disabilities receive good quality education in an inclusive environment. Also, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognizes the right of all children with disabilities both to be included in the general education systems and to receive the individual support they require.

It is an established fact that inclusion of children with disabilities in education is important for four main reasons.

1.       Education contributes to human capital and is thus a key determinant of personal well-being and welfare for people with disabilities.

2.       Excluding children with disabilities from educational and employment opportunities has high social and economic costs. For example, adults with disabilities tend to be poorer than those without disabilities, but education changes this status.

3.       Countries cannot achieve “Education for All” or the Millennium Development Goal of universal completion of primary education without ensuring access to education for children with disabilities.

4.       Countries that are signatories to the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) cannot fulfill their responsibilities under Article 24 of the CRPD.

Conclusion

The Unit Head of the Special Needs Classes   needs the following play and development materials to enable them support the special needs children to learn basic life skills for a living:

·            E-toys and puzzles,

·            TV set and play & development CDs,

·            Painting Furniture,

·            Electricity and support to pay the electricity bills,

·            Vehicle to be conveying the children to and from school.

How well do we care or perform our social responsibilities ?????

 This is where the teaching materials are kept

The nature of the classroom

 This is the Classroom 

 This is what i mean...............