Inclusive education report published

A report which makes recommendations for the improvement of inclusive and special education in Malta was launched yesterday.

Among the working group's recommendations is the radical review of the facilitator system.

Lino Spiteri, who chaired the working group, explained that while some children do need one-to-one support, and should continue getting it, others do not need such extensive support.

The working group's belief is that children with individual needs should not be helped to the point that they do not learn because everything is being done for them. He pointed out that if facilitators do everything for the children, they would be hindering them instead of helping.

Mr Spiteri appealed to parents to understand the underlying message of such an action, if this is taken. He stressed that if children were not allowed to develop during the crucial formative years of childhood, they would have difficulties later on in life.

The facilitators, which the working group refers to as learning support assistants, should be qualified to diploma level. The working group recommended that those following the course should be required to specialise in two different areas, to ensure mobility when it comes to work placements.

There are 1,785 students with special needs who are either integrated in mainstream schools or attend special schools.

With regard to problems encountered when a learning support assistant is absent, and the children cannot attend school, the report said a suitably restructured Statementing Moderating Panel should recommend whether a student could remain in class. It said this should substantially reduce instances of students who cannot stay in mainstream education without direct support.

Another recommendation is in-service training offered by the Education Division for heads of schools and teachers.

The working group recommended an early review to determine whether learning support services at times continue to be extended even when they were not longer required or needed. It said there could be instances where a person no longer needs support, but is not allowed to decline it.

"More than just a waste of resources, the working group feels this is an unwarranted intrusion in the life of an individual. Insisting on supplying support services in such a case can also be harmful to the person's development," it said.

During yesterday's launch, Mr Spiteri said the government should intensify its measure to give work opportunities to people with a disability who are registering for work.

The report also mentions gifted children, saying that as yet there is no provision which provides for children whose intellectual capabilities are well above the norm. Since other societies reckon that one in every 1,000 students tends to be gifted, there are around 70 gifted children in Malta.

The working group - made up of Mr Spiteri, principal education officer George Borg, National Commission for Persons with a Disability official Anne-Marie Callus, Higher Secondary Education teacher Joe Cauchi and Micheline Sciberras, policy coordinator within the Education Ministry - was set up last December to report on the situation of inclusive education, on the situation of special schools in Malta and Gozo and on the human and financial resources dedicated to this area.

Speaking during the launch, Education Minister Louis Galea said he agreed with the major part of the recommendations and would be working together with the authorities and education stakeholders to address them.

The minister said extensive consultations had taken place by the working group over the past six months and now it was time to take action.

Dr Galea said inclusive education over the past 10 years had been beneficial for a lot of students and parents.

The report can be found on the Education Ministry's website at www.education.gov.mt/inclusion.htm