More special needs students enrolled in private institutions this academic year
Published:Wednesday | September 4, 2024 | 1:43 PM
More students with special needs have been enrolled in private institutions for this school year, Minister of Education, Fayval Williams, has disclosed.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Williams shared that 195 students have enrolled this year, bringing the number of students with special needs in private institutions for this academic year to 460.
“Of note, there are public spaces in our public schools available that cater to specific challenges and disabilities, but in the unlikely event that the needs are greater we place them in one of 17 private schools with which we have established partnerships,” Williams said.
Concurrently, the Minister also shared that 338 new special education needs assistants (SENAs), formerly known as shadows, have been added to the system, bringing the total number to 759 across all regions.
Additionally, the salary for SENAs has also been increased from $40,000 to $60,000.
“We have also done some alignment of courses with HEART so that our SENA's will be able to receive certification, with a level one, two, or three in the very near future,” she said.
William's announcement echoes a policy directive outlined by Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently.
Holness, while speaking at the Hope Valley Experimental School in St Andrew on Monday, underscored his administration's efforts to promote inclusivity in the education system.
“No child should be denied access to education because of any need that they may have that is not considered to be within the normal range. [We must] redouble the efforts to find those persons out there; the budgetary allocation is there and the provisions are there to reach out to them and support them,” he said.
- Sashana Small
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