Post on 31-Dec-2015
description
R2E CwD Response to Annual Performance Plan on education for children with disabilities
Presentation outline
• Introduction• Speaking to following programmes• Programme 2: Curriculum Policy, Support and
Monitoring • Programme 3: Teachers, Education Human Resources
and Institutional Development• Programme 4: Planning, Information and Assessment• Programme 5: Educational Enrichment Services
• Conclusion and Recommendations
Introduction
• Omission of Annual Performance Plan to address education for children with disabilities in relation to special schools • E.g. Scholar transport not addressed even
though raised as strategic priority for 2012/13.• Agree with Honourable Surty (Dep. Min) in
relation to importance of promoting inclusive education and that we have policies in place for this
Programme 2: Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring• Screening Identification Assessment & Support
(SIAS)• Piloting of screening guidelines in Action Plan
Milestones• However 100 schools nationally being trained
on SIAS is not only completely unrealistic on what has been done, but is also completely unacceptable• Central to this is support the districts provide
Programme 3: Teachers, Education Human Resources…•Principal performance contracts• Lack of any skills development and
training for teachers in Inclusive Education• Includes managing diversity in
classes and disability specific training
Programme 4: Planning, Information and Assessment• Over-sized classes and children with disabilities
that require support• Out of school children• Performance indicator 7 – 15 years –
disproportionality high percentage of those are learners with disabilities• Low percentage of learners in age appropriate
grades speaks to the inability of the system to address barriers to learning and learner needs
Programme 5: Educational Enrichment Services• Transport constitutes a huge barrier to access
education for children with disabilities• Scholar transport is highlighted as strategic
priority for 2012/13, yet no mention is made of addressing it in programme 5, nor can we see evidence of any budgetary allocation • Interesting fact: Ca. 10 000 schools are targeted
for participation in choral eisteddfods – 100 times the number of schools targeted to receive training on SIAS
Conclusion
• Acknowledge positive initiatives by the DBE to improve basic education• National schools nutrition programme;• Low and no school fee initiatives, especially at
certain special schools;• Reports that NEEDU have published show real
insight into challenges in implementation of basic education • Any commend by DBE on implementing
recommendations of such reports are welcomed
Recommendations
• Programme 2:• As a matter of urgency to finalise revised SIAS
documentation;• Revise targets for training schools and districts on SIAS• Increase educators’ capacity (not just on literacy,
numeracy & science – managing diversity too) as part of the system to improve learner performance
• Programme 3:• Important to re-look at criteria for principals’
performance contracts
Thank you!
• Contact Details: Lorenzo Wakefield
Researcher: Children’s Rights ProjectCommunity Law CentreUniversity of the Western Capelwakefield@uwc.ac.za (021) 959 2950 (t)