The Anguilla Education Department has this week been highlighting the importance of the delivery of special education mainly in the Government-run schools and the positive effect it is having on children needing that assistance.
Mrs Jacqueline Connor, Education Officer for Special Needs, said the students were engaged in activities that would allow them to interact with their classmates across the various centres while learning from each other.
She was speaking at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Sunday, March 9, where the Education Department and the Dominion Faith Centre collaborated in a church service to open a series of activities for Special Education Week 2014. The week of events has as its theme: Our challenges do not limit our Abilities.
“It is true that all learners are different,” Mrs Connor told the gathering. “They come from diverse homes and community environments and have individual characteristics and learning styles. The majority of students in Anguilla’s education system are educated in the mainstream classroom and learn without requiring special help. However, there are some who are unique and cannot learn in a regular classroom unless some form of special help is given to them. Other students who have challenges that prevent them from learning in a regular classroom are those who are afforded a special education placement.”
The Education Officer continued: “In teaching children, parents and teachers must always acknowledge the fact that children learn at their own pace and develop at different stages. So, too, is the case of children with special needs. That is why we promote the thinking that children’s challenges do not limit their abilities. Those abilities exist when we provide the opportunities.”
Mrs Connor said the special education placements outside the classroom were provided at the Adrian T Hazell Primary School Moderate Learning Difficulties Centre; Orealia Kelly Primary School Severe Learning Difficulties Centre; Valley Primary School Learning Centre; the DOVE Centre (Developing of the Vision for Education) at the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School; the privately-owned Blossom Centre; the Special Education Needs Centre at Campus B, and the Learning Centre at Campus A, of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
The week of activities comprises fieldtrips, special story times, various opportunities for students to display their talents, and professional development training sessions for parents, teachers and the general public.
Pastor Dexter Welcome expressed appreciation that the Education Department had collaborated with his church in launching Special Education Week. His prayer was that the community would not only hear what was said about the challenges facing children, but would endeavour to assist them where possible and to show them caring love.
He cited several examples where, as recorded in history, a number of persons, faced by challenging experiences, eventually went on to achieve success and greatness by applying themselves and looking beyond their particular circumstances. He advised all persons seeking to overcome challenges in their lives to have an open mind about themselves; to recognise their potential and to work towards achieving success.
Following the service a special gift of books and other educational material was presented to Mrs Connor for the Special Education Unit. The presentation was made by Mrs Jeannine Connor-Gittens, on behalf of the Dominion Faith Centre, in conjunction with Pepper and Harris Herman of the United States. The Hermans, who have been loyal visitors to Anguilla for almost two decades, were honoured to have played a part in assisting with such a worthy cause.
