More Than 200 Special Education Assistants Trained

More than 200 Special Education Assistants have been trained as part of the Ministry of Education and Youth’s programme to strengthen inclusive education and to ensure that no student with special needs is left behind.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, said this is one of several initiatives being pursued by the Ministry and its stakeholders to improve the framework that supports special education.

“This has allowed us to increase the number of students who benefit from the support, and we have placed almost 300 special needs students in integrated and non-integrated government schools,” she said.

Mrs. Williams was addressing the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) capacity-building for special education contract signing ceremony on May 9, at The Mico University College in Kingston.

Now in its 10th cycle, the BNTF continues to facilitate capacity-building of educators islandwide.

The project was conceptualised out of the need for the establishment of standards and guidelines related to special education, particularly those related to educational instructions and the physical learning environment.

With the implementation of these standards through this project, it is expected to result in the provision of quality education for children with special needs and promoting greater inclusiveness of these students in the education system.

“Significant strides have been made in the field of special education. This project focuses on developing standards, providing leadership training and offers specialised certification, and it will undoubtedly strengthen the framework for governance and regulation of special education in Jamaica,” the Minister said.