OECS launches programme to assist Special Needs children

THE Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Program for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (OECS PEARL) has launched a Special Education Needs (SEN) Survey in its Member States. The survey was launched online on September 19.

In a release, the OECS said the overarching goal of the SEN Survey is to support enhancements to the education of students with special education needs and disabilities across the OECS so that “Every Learner Succeeds”.

The OECS PEARL is a comprehensive four-year program of improvements to education. It builds upon the significant progress that has been made in Special Education across the Caribbean and the OECS. However, more improvements are required to ensure that all children have learning opportunities to reach their full potential. The release said the purpose of the SEN Survey is to collect information from multiple stakeholders towards the development of an action plan of interventions to support students with special needs, a professional development plan to support their teachers and to inform the purchase of assistive devices to increase access to learning.

The OECS Commission is urging the general public to be more conscientious and sensitive to people with special needs and to share in the data gathering effort. They are encouraged to reach out to the Ministry of Education in their state to determine how they can contribute. Very importantly, some children with special needs are not in school, the OECS release points out. “Let us know how to reach them to provide the support for learning that they need,” it urged.

Students, parents, educators, healthcare professionals and members of communities generally are asked to participate in the survey and the OECS said information will be treated confidentially.