Down Syndrome Association insists on continuous education

The Down Syndrome Association said it had noted with satisfaction the introduction of the EU funded project APT-Leonardo - Access to Professional Training for Persons with Disability.

It said that according to an article in The Sunday Times of January 28 'The project aims to encourage and support disabled persons to undertake university and third level courses...'

The association said it genuinely believed in adult learning, continuous education and life-long learning for all persons with disability, including persons with intellectual difficulties.

"Unfortunately, to date, our education system does not cater for a 16-year-old who has Down Syndrome and who has benefited from mainstream education. After using the tax payers' money to give these students a good quality education in the mainstream, the same system is abruptly stopping their education when they finish Form 5."