Over the past financial year, the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) has made strides in providing education for special needs students.
Presenting their annual report for the 2018/’19 financial year, the department announced they had exceeded their target in accommodating learners with special needs into special schools by extending the service to 337 learners in the province.
The province has 71 special schools in total and accommodates learners with special needs in areas including physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, severe and specific intellectual disabilities.
The WCED has two special schools dealing with autism and supports 22 schools of skills with an adapted curriculum to help learners with special needs access higher education to become part of the world of work.
“The department uses early detection strategies to root out all barriers to learning to ensure each learner has the opportunity to quality education that speaks to their individual needs. The department also trained 112 teachers in university accredited courses to enhance support for learners with special needs at public ordinary schools,” said Lorraine Botha, member of parliament.
Learners with special needs cannot cope with the pace at main stream schools and simply removing them, hampers their future.
