"There is no duncey head child. Should we consider a child to be dunce then we are the dunces because it is that we do not recognise their needs and we do not recognise what needs to be done for them."
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made that statement Wednesday in an address at the formal opening of the Marabella Secondary School at Gopaul Lands, Marabella.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made that statement Wednesday in an address at the formal opening of the Marabella Secondary School at Gopaul Lands, Marabella.
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| Cutting the ribbon to open the Maraballa Secondary school - PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar with Education Minister Tim Gopeesingh and his junior minister Clifton De Coteau, MP for the area Errol McLeod and San Fernando Mayor, Marlene Coudray |
She said for far too long, differently-abled children have been neglected. She said that is changing, noting that her administration is putting in place measures to assist those with special needs.
She also commended an instructor at the school, who communicated with the audience using sign language and pointed out that teachers are needed within the school system to assist differently-able children.
The Prime Minister also announced that her government plans to build at least three schools that would cater exclusively for children with special needs. One of them would be in Tobago, she said.
Persad-Bissessar told the audience of school children and officials, "A child may have a sight deficiency or a hearing deficiency and we think the child is dunce because the child is not able to see properly or hear properly.
"Simple basic physical testing in all the schools is vital to pick up these differences at an early stage so we can give them the special kind of education and attention they need."
Persad-Bissessar asked Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh to make arrangements for physical and other tests for children, noting that those with special needs should be tested annually.
She said, "The minister advised me that about 30 per cent of students within the system have special needs and whilst we were busy taking care of those who were not special needs children which we have to do—they are the majority—we may have staggered over the years in paying attention to special needs children."
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed rumours that there are plans to scrap the "Pan in Schools" programme.
She said, "I am advised by the Minister of Education that contrary to the views of some, the programme with pan in schools has never stopped, will not stop, will never stop and will continue in the schools of Trinidad and Tobago."
She said the plan is to expand the programme and include other musical instruments.
Persad-Bissessar also extended best wishes to the thousands of primary school pupils writing the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Thursday and assured them that each of them will be placed in a secondary schools. She also reminded them that when they get to the secondary schools each of them will receive a laptop computer.
She also commended an instructor at the school, who communicated with the audience using sign language and pointed out that teachers are needed within the school system to assist differently-able children.
The Prime Minister also announced that her government plans to build at least three schools that would cater exclusively for children with special needs. One of them would be in Tobago, she said.
Persad-Bissessar told the audience of school children and officials, "A child may have a sight deficiency or a hearing deficiency and we think the child is dunce because the child is not able to see properly or hear properly.
"Simple basic physical testing in all the schools is vital to pick up these differences at an early stage so we can give them the special kind of education and attention they need."
Persad-Bissessar asked Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh to make arrangements for physical and other tests for children, noting that those with special needs should be tested annually.
She said, "The minister advised me that about 30 per cent of students within the system have special needs and whilst we were busy taking care of those who were not special needs children which we have to do—they are the majority—we may have staggered over the years in paying attention to special needs children."
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed rumours that there are plans to scrap the "Pan in Schools" programme.
She said, "I am advised by the Minister of Education that contrary to the views of some, the programme with pan in schools has never stopped, will not stop, will never stop and will continue in the schools of Trinidad and Tobago."
She said the plan is to expand the programme and include other musical instruments.
Persad-Bissessar also extended best wishes to the thousands of primary school pupils writing the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Thursday and assured them that each of them will be placed in a secondary schools. She also reminded them that when they get to the secondary schools each of them will receive a laptop computer.
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