To say that it is long overdue would be an understatement when it comes to the Inclusive Schools Project soon to be launched by the Ministry of Education. Still, better late than never that today consultations with stakeholders will begin ahead of the launch of the project in January.
Soon, hopefully, there will no longer be cases of children being excluded from schools in this country because of disability or any other challenges. It has long been proven in other jurisdictions that separate, special education does not guarantee success for children who need special attention.
Finally, there is the promise that T&T's education system will reflect and value true inclusivity—something that should have happened long ago in a population as unique and diverse as ours.
This newspaper is in full support of this initiative, the first phase of which will be implemented at two primary and one secondary school in each educational district. This is an important step in establishing a public school system that is truly equitable.
At truly inclusive schools, all students, with or without disabilities, are placed in age-appropriate general education classes where they can benefit from instruction, interventions, and support. Opportunities are provided for all students to fully participate in classroom activities.
Studies done over many years have shown that both students with and without disabilities learn more in inclusive classroom. Those with disabilities have higher achievements and improved skills, with significant academic gains in literacy, math, and social studies, as well as better communication skills, improved social skills and more friendships.
It is also a positive learning environment for students without disabilities who show more positive attitudes, research shows.
In the current system, students with physical and developmental challenges are put in special schools, most of which are privately-run, so there are costs for tuition and other services. This puts special needs children from low-income at a disadvantage since they may not be able to afford the quality education and interventions to ensure academic success.
However, even as we applaud this positive development now being pursued by Education Minister Anthony Garcia and his team, the fervent hope is that in planning and execution, best practices are adopted. The four days of consultations that start today will be an opportunity to incorporate into the system ideas from stakeholders, including highly qualified and experienced educators, who can make valuable contributions to the process.
It is important to ensure that teachers are provided with the training and resources to work successfully with students who have diverse needs and learning styles. Therefore, the government must be prepared to invest in teacher and staff training, improved infrastructure, learning materials, and equipment.
Properly implemented, this will be a sound investment in improved education for all.