Life-long learning for people with Down Syndrome (2)

We refer to the article "Access to professional training for persons with disability". The movement welcomes this project which aims to give persons with disability the opportunity to continue their education.

However the movement sadly notes that, despite our efforts to press on the need for a continuous education system for students with intellectual disability benefiting from inclusive education, we are still experiencing the same situation where these students are leaving our education system unprepared for adult life.

Despite the provisions of the Education Act, at age 16, students with intellectual disability have a mental age of 12 or 13 - sometimes even younger. This means that at 16 these students cannot leave school like their peers. They would not have fully benefited from their education.

The movement strongly believes that the State ought to shoulder its full responsibility and immediately offer education to these persons until their full development of the whole personality including the ability to work (Education Act).

The movement urges other entities such as the National Commission for Persons with Disability and MCAST to also promote and work for a good quality adult education for persons who have intellectual disabilities.

We are not talking about the level of access to professional training for persons with intellectual disability, but about the basic education of adults with intellectual disability who, because of their disability, need more time and professional people to learn.

This year is the European Year for Equal Opportunities. We urge our authorities to finally implement a much-required adult education system for persons with intellectual disability and make it an equal opportunity for them.