Board to evaluate policy on inclusive education

The Education Ministry has launched a review of its policy on inclusive education, Education Minster Louis Galea told a conference on the subject yesterday.

Dr Galea said the review process would involve all those somehow connected to the policy. The review process will be headed by a board, which will evaluate the current situation and propose strategies to improve the current service.

Some 1,000 children with disability receive their education within mainstream schools in terms of the policy. They are assisted by some 600 facilitators and kindergarten assistants. There are also five special schools for 270 students. Home and hospital teaching services are also provided for children who cannot go to school.

Dr Galea said inclusive education was an integral part of the education system. It gave value to all pupils in an equal manner and gave them all greater opportunities to participate in the community of their school. The central role of schools as builders of the community needed to be increasingly emphasised because one should not just aim for inclusive education, but for an inclusive society.

The conference was hosted by the National Commission, Persons with Disability.