Life-long learning for people with Down Syndrome (1)

The Down Syndrome Association notes with satisfaction the introduction of the EU-funded project "APT-Leonardo - Access to Professional Training for Persons with Disability". (The Sunday Times, January 28).

Our association genuinely believes in adult learning, continuous education and life-long learning for all persons with disability. This includes people with intellectual disability. 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 taxpayers' 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.

Although our Education Act states that: "It is the duty of the State to promote education and instruction, to ensure the existence of a system of schools and institutions accessible to all Maltese citizens catering for the full development of the whole personality including the ability of every person to work; and to provide for such schools and institutions where these do not exist", our children are made to leave school half-way through their education or go to a special school.

No adult education is being offered to our children as is being done with the rest of the students. This despite that due to their condition, our adults need more time to learn and to develop their abilities.

The Down Syndrome Association urges authorities to immediately rectify the prevailing unfair situation that our children find themselves in when they are still in their early adulthood. They too have a right to professional adult education in a pleasant and suitable environment.

A year of activities aimed to inform European citizens of their right to non-discrimination and equal treatment and to promote equal opportunities has been launched in Brussels. Our children are European citizens who have a right for equal treatment and equal opportunities.