Message from the Minister of Education

Message from the Minister of Education,

 

It is noteworthy that for seventy years the Jamaica Association for the Deaf has been representing persons who have hearing disabilities. Indeed, without your painstaking efforts, public awareness regarding the issues facing persons with varying levels of hearing loss would not have increased. 

The country’s schools continue to play a pivotal role in identifying children with hearing or other disabilities. In many instances, hearing challenges aren’t picked up by parents but by discerning teachers who pay keen attention to students’ behaviour. This is why the Ministry of Education has to ensure that systems designed to identify children with hearing, visual or other disabilities are strengthened. We have fallen short in this area as in some cases students with disabilities have gotten lost in regular school settings.

Thankfully, this problem is being addressed with urgency. The Ministry of Education has revised the National Special Education Policy. The revised policy sets out minimum standards for provision and support at all levels of the system. It also articulates the need for all schools to be supported by Special Education Coordinators. The Special Education Policy also highlights the need for the use of technology to support Special Educational needs.

A ‘Child Find’ initiative aimed at identifying and supporting students with special needs will also be launched. This initiative will be supported by a new referral and placement system. Indeed when we say ‘every child can learn, every child must learn’ we mean that the Ministry of Education, through its many key partners, must ensure that no student is left behind due to learning or physical challenges.

I commend the Jamaica Association for the Deaf on its efforts to represent and highlight the needs of members of your community and invite the organization to join with the Ministry of Education as it works to provide an appropriate environment for all students.