DUBAI— Private schools in Dubai will soon have to provide e-learning support services and qualified teachers for students with special needs.
Licensing guidelines and regulations for schools will be mandatory for private schools to be well quipped in the future, according to the emirate’s education body’ the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
In fact, new public schools are also being built to accommodate students with special needs.
This decision comes in the wake of the predicament faced by 19 special needs children at the Emirates English Speaking School, who may have to turn to centres if no private school admits them.
Despite being integrated into mainstream education, their parents fear they may now be forced to enrol them in centres as the Emirates English Speaking School’s special needs wing is closing down in March next year.
“We don’t want to think of sending the children to any centre because they have already been integrated into mainstream education,” said a parent, who requested not to be named.
“It would mean taking a step backward for these children, especially since the emphasis today is on inclusion.
“Besides the fact they are a bit slow in academics, they are otherwise quite independent and can manage with a little help.”
“There is no use in putting them in centres because it would negate the progress we have made in the past years,” said Stanley Mathews, father of an 11-year-old boy, who has been diagnosed with autism.
He added that they were now seeking affordable schools for the children.
Mohammed Darwish, Chief of Licensing and Customer Relations at Knowledge and Human Development Authority, told Khaleej Times: “Under the licensing guidelines and regulations for the coming years, private schools will be required to provide learning support services and qualified teachers for students with special needs.
“Some of the new public schools being built are fully facilitated to accommodate students with special needs,” he said in a written statement, adding that the authority was requesting private schools to accommodate the 19 pupils of Emirates English Speaking School.
“We are working with schools to prevent such situations in future.Students are the main focus of the authority’ — whether special needs or mainstream.
“Their needs must be fully addressed to be in line with the guidelines of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority ,” added Darwish.
Preeti Kannan