Dear Editor – I’m indeed grateful to have seen in your Sunday paper, that UN Human Rights experts had reported that millions of people with disabilities are denied an education, although is available only in settings where they are isolated from peers.
That is quite true, which for many years had been my concern and had often wished for the policy for Inclusive Education in our country to be passed in parliament to allow children with disabilities and others with special needs to have access to education, although at this point the Ministry of Education Human Resources is still waiting for it.
Introducing and promoting Inclusive Education is not easy and will come with a cost, however we can start by taking small steps now, towards a more better and advance level in future.
I strongly believe if all teachers are trained or have some basic understanding of how to work and teach children with disabilities and special needs, this would surely pave the way forward towards inclusive education.
Let’s not wait for the Inclusive education requirements which will be an in-depth transformation of education systems in LEGISLATION, POLICY and others which is a delay but as I had mentioned, once teachers are trained we can surely start somewhere.
However, I thank the many teachers throughout the country whom although might not noticed it, but already are teaching children who are having difficulties with their day to day class lessons, to me that is already Inclusive, and I would like to encourage all teachers to keep up the good work, whilst we wait for this Inclusive Education Policy to come on board.
Although I have retired from my job as a specialist on Inclusive and Special Education, I desire to see the day, Inclusive education be introduced into the education system, and giving our disabled and special needs children to have a chance in the normal education system.
I wish the Inclusive Education Team in the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development to keep up your good work to see that Inclusive Education is carried on board.
God truly will bless you, and my love to all disabled people of this country.
God bless Solomon Islands.
Catherine Anilafa (MBE)
Honiara
