$50m allocated this year to upgrade schools to aid disabled students

The government has allocated $50 million dollars this fiscal year to make 171 public schools more accessible to special need students.

The Ministry of Education, in making the announcement, said $5.7 million has already been allocated to 14 schools.

The announcement was made in a statement yesterday in which the ministry also revealed that Jamaica College has agreed to accept eleven-year student Alex Fraser, who is confined to a wheelchair.

Fraser was initially placed at Meadowbrook High School in St Andrew based on his performance in the 2018 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

The Dunrobin Primary School student scored 92 for mathematics, 85 for science, 86 for social studies, 81 for language arts and 10 out of 12 for communication task.

JC’s intervention follows a media report that Meadow brook had indicated it did not have the facilities to accommodate Fraser.

The education ministry says over the years, it has facilitated the adequate placement of students with special needs once the GSAT results are published and the nature of the disability is identified.

Noting that the government is fully committed to empowering the disabled community, the ministry said 125 primary schools and 33 high schools across the island have already been equipped to provide access for students with physical disabilities.

Some of the equipment in place includes ramps, rails and wheelchair accessible bathrooms.

“In 2017 the government stepped up its programme to retrofit all primary and secondary schools across the island with lifts and ramps to improve access by persons with disabilities,” the ministry said.

“This is part of the Government's commitment to supporting State-owned and State-aided special education schools and units across the island,” it continued.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-449-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.