Special needs education in Guyana

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 15-20 per cent of any school age grouping will have special needs. Ideally, handling such cases involves a lot of complexities, including individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs, and a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community, among others.
In Jamaica, there are ongoing talks too about special needs education.
For many of the citizens there, the local education system is not fully equipped to deal with these children. Some questions then for our education ministry: What is the count here as regards special needs? What types do we have in Guyana? How many are mental? How many are physical? How many are reversible? Then how about qualified personnel?
Currently, the government is in the process of compiling a five-year action plan, derived from contributions received during consultations with stakeholders on children with special needs. This is a great start, but we have a lot of catching up to do, and the earlier we start, the better.
Yours truly,
Ron Heskith

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