A new dawn for inclusive education

n a significant move towards inclusive education, the Ministry of Education is set to broaden its learning disability screening programme for the coming academic year.

Kay McConney, the education minister, unveiled the plan at a special graduation reception for students with special needs who had successfully navigated the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination, commonly referred to as the Common Entrance or 11-plus exam.

Speaking at the Barbados Yacht Club, McConney emphasised the government’s dedication to supporting children with learning challenges, outlining the government’s commitment to ensuring no child falls through the cracks. She highlighted the importance of early identification, explaining how it enables educators to craft tailored learning approaches.

“Sometimes we say this child has a challenge but we didn’t do the proper diagnosis to find out if it was sight, if it was that the child couldn’t hear or something else. We have determined that the earlier we do this the greater the chances are that we will catch something that could hold them back and be able to intervene earlier so that they too could [be successful],” the minister said.

The expanded programme will build upon last year’s vision screening initiative for secondary school first-formers. Now, children as young as three-and-a-half and five years old will undergo vision and hearing tests. Additionally, the ministry will bolster its resources for diagnostic testing of students with potential learning difficulties.

McConney shared a personal connection to the cause, revealing that her own 16-year-old daughter has a learning disability. Early screening and appropriate accommodations have led to her daughter’s exceptional performance, underscoring the potential impact of the expanded programme.

Kirk Humphrey, the minister of people empowerment and elder affairs, outlined forthcoming policy changes aimed at improving treatment of individuals with disabilities and their families. These include encouraging employers to offer more flexible working arrangements for parents of children with disabilities.

Humphrey also addressed the discrimination and challenges faced by children with disabilities, including bullying and difficulties accessing healthcare. He announced that new legislation to address these issues is expected to reach Parliament by November.

The minister provided an update on efforts to extend national insurance benefits to more people with disabilities, noting that 350 individuals with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and advanced multiple sclerosis had already registered for benefits.

The event celebrated the graduation of 31 students with special needs from primary schools across Barbados, recognising their achievement in securing places at secondary schools. Kerryann Ifill, president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, encouraged the graduates to reflect on their journey and to speak up about any challenges they might face in their new schools.

(SZB)