DUBAI - Educators and experts called for a transparent policy statement and dialogue between private schools and the Ministry of Education (MoE), for inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream education.
Speaking on the last day of the Second GCC Learning Disability Conference in Dubai on Thursday, psychologists blamed schools principals for their reluctance to admit children with special needs. Education Ministry officials, on the other hand, said a policy on special needs would be disclosed soon.
“There is a need for a greater regulatory framework and a dialogue between private schools and the Ministry of Education,” Stuart Dennis, Executive Principal CEO of Gems World Academy (GWA), Dubai, told Khaleej Times, on the sidelines of the conference. Nearly 70 of the 620 children in the newly-opened school have different forms of complex learning issues.
“We can include children in schools without isolating them. One of the challenges in the UAE is who bears the cost of providing highly qualified consultants for children with additional needs. We cannot keep asking families for money so we (GWA) seek out funding for parents in other ways,” Dennis added.
The educator also observed that Emirati students with special needs could be government funded.
“There should be a clear, transparent policy statement from the government, which should be applicable for both private and public schools so parent of a child can seek legal help. The ministry needs to make accommodations for children with learning disabilities faster as there is a lot red tape,” said Dr Onita Nakra, Educational Psychologist and Counsellor, Dubai.
She said that schools were often not aware of modifications and exemptions possible in the curricula, while some even shied away from approaching the issue due to the long drawn process of getting exemptions.
“A simple process of assessment in schools can help the teacher guide students. Teachers are generally equipped to deal with children with special needs.
However, school principals are more reluctant to admit them,” said Nakra adding that currently, there were very few special schools in the country.
Moyyad Al Homidi, Education Supervisor and Consultant at the Special Education Directorate at the MoE, stressed that the ministry encourages integration.
“We encourage any attempt by private schools to include children with special needs, in accordance with our standards.
However, it is not an easy process and needs awareness among students and teachers,” he conceded, adding that the ministry always allowed curriculum and was ready to provide support whenever a parent requested.
“The Department of Special Education in the ministry is working on policy and standards on special education, which will be published very soon,” said Homidi, emphasising that the environment needs to be ready for inclusion.
Preeti Kannan