SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS (SEN) SECTOR

Vision

Ensure that no child is left behind on account of any disability

Vision aligned with Education for All ( EFA) Goals and Education-related MDGs

SEN Policy Articulated around

Four major thrust areas

Improved and Increased Access

Partnership with NGOs

Support services and Capacity building; and

Adoption of International Best Practices

Thrust 1: Improved and Increased Access

• Setting up of 9 New Integrated Units in 2012/2013

• Upgrading of 8 New Day Care Centres (2012)

• Registration of 7 New Day Care Centres (2012)

• Forthcoming Integrated Unit at M. Burrenchobay GS Plaine Magnien

Maps illustrating the No. of Registered Special Education Needs Schools, Day-Care Centres & Integrated Units in

2008 & 2013 Respectively

No. of institutions: 45 No. of institutions: 62

Outreach Exercise

First outreach exercise for the registration of SEN children in 2010.

Year No. of Pupils

2010 5

2011 68

2012 59

2013 79

Total 211

Thrust 2: Partnership with NGOs

10 Integrated Units being run in collaboration with 6

NGOs and 2 Units in SENRDC Ferney

Further collaboration for new integrated Units and new SENRDCs at Maingard and Plaines des Papayes

THRUST 3: Support services and Capacity building

(i) Support Services

Enlarged print school books/manuals and question papers produced for children with Visual Impairment.Provision of Braille PCs to children with Visual Impairment

• Children with auditive difficulties provided with the

service of sign language interpreters for the purpose of examinations.

• Children with disabilities benefit from extra time for examinations

•

SUPPORT SERVICES ( Contd)

•Flexibility in earlier release of pupils with disabilities

•Adoption of a flexible approach for parents to provide any extra assistance to their children

•Ramps, handrails and adapted toilets provided in a phased manner

•Library services, laboratories ,Computer Rooms and classrooms having pupils with disabilities located on the ground floor

SETTING-UP OF SEN RESOURCE & DEVELOPMENT

CENTRES (SENRDCs)

Main objectives:

To act as a One-Stop-Shop providing specialised supportand other relevant services not available in SENschools/Integrated units

To reach out to children who require Special EducationSupport

Five (5) Resource and Development Centres:

Ferney (soft take-off in June)

Beau Bassin to be operational soon

Plaine des Papayes

R. Gujadhur (Flacq) upcoming project

Rivière des Anguilles

SENRDC in action

SENRDC Ferney: Equipment, Therapies & Activities

(i) MIE:

Post graduate Diploma in Special Education (PGDISE)

Teachers’ Diploma in SEN

Certificate in Special education

Educators’ Licence in SEN

Foundation Course in SEN (On-going)

(ii) MOEHR:

Training in Autism

Applied Paper Technology

Mauritian Sign Language (MSL) Course

FUTURE TRAINING

Autism

SEN – British Council

(ii) Capacity Building

Adoption of International Best Practices

Assistance from European Union

“Training of Trainers” for 35 Professionals: focus on Visual Impairment and Hearing Impairment and Dyslexia.

Further training in other disability areas ( Autism, Physical and intellectual impairment) being programmed.

Assistance from Reunion Island

A delegation from Mauritius visited Reunion Island in June 2013

A delegation from Reunion Island will be present in Mauritius (from 28th – 31st October 2013)

This collaborative platform will consent to:

Sharing of expertise in the field of SEN

Capacity Building;

Curriculum Development; and

Quality Assurance.

ON-GOING PROJECTS1. Grant in Aid

38 NGOs running 48 schools currently benefiting from the Grant-in-Aid.

Grant was increased from Rs 3.5M in 2002 to Rs 30M in 2013.

New Review of Grant-in-Aid (2013)

A Committee set up to review the formula to best cater for the various categories of disabilities.

Evolution of budget provision for Grant In Aid

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Budget provision

Budget provision

2. Curriculum Development

Mainstream curriculum being adapted to cater for children with Hearing and Visual Impairment.

Curricula Development and adaptation for other types of impairments:

Autism

Dyslexia

Intellectual and

Physical

Representatives of NGOs are on the Sub-Committee for Curriculum Development. The new curriculum will be piloted in Standard I as from 2014.

3. Norms & Standards

A Sub-Committee is looking at Norms and Standards and Quality Assurance in SEN schools. The expertise of NGOs are being taken on board. Work is on-going and is expected to be completed by mid-December.

A Special Needs Profile Book has been worked out to help NGOs and SEN Schools keep updated records on every child and their progress. This Profile Book will be introduced as from January 2014

4. Recognition of Prior Learning

The MQA and MIE are at present working on the recognition of prior learning of staff servicing the SEN schools run by NGOs.

5. Salaries and conditions of service of all staff working in NGOs

The National Remuneration Board through the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment has been requested to regulate and prescribe the salaries and conditions of service of all staff working in SEN schools run by NGOs.

Thank You