 |
[Feedback] |
|
Special Education And Rehabilitation Centre Officially Opened In Soufriere
|
Special Education And Rehabilitation Centre Officially Opened In Soufriere
|
|
Contact:
Julita Peter
Tuesday,
September 18, 2001
-
- Physically challenged children from the Soufriere community will no longer be
deprived of professional therapeutic services, as the first Special Education
and Rehabilitation Centre has been officially opened. The centre, which is
housed in the Old Boys Primary School, caters for children with moderate to
profound disabilities, by providing them with therapeutic, educational and
social services. Parents
of physically challenged children have expressed overwhelming joy, as this is
the first time their children will get the opportunity to be part of a formal
school setting. The Education Act
of 1999 obligates the Government of St. Lucia to provide education for every
citizen of the country regardless of his level of ability, or disability, race,
culture or creed. Permanent
Secretary in the Department of Education and Human Resource Development, Dr.
Didacus Jules explains that the establishment of the Soufriere centre is the
beginning of the extension of those rights. “The staff at the centre has been
carefully selected. However if the
centre is to help the physically challenged in Soufriere realize their full
potential then certain measures are necessary. The ministry intends to provide
further and ongoing training in special education for the staff of the centre,
” Jules added. Meanwhile
Parliamentary Representative for Soufriere Honourable Dr. Walter François in
welcoming the initiative implored the community at large to exercise tolerance
and benevolence to persons with special disabilities. In pledging continued
government support, Dr. François
added, “The Government of
St. Lucia has been extremely helpful, but more importantly the government
will have to meet the recurrent expenditure for this facility, so they will have
to provide for the teachers, school materials and the school feeding programme,”
the MP said. Financial
assistance for the purchasing of equipment valued at EC$21,000, was provided by
the government of Germany, whilst the cost for renovation works was funded by
the French government. The
initiative was realized through the relentless efforts of the Soufriere
community, the Ministry of Education and donor agencies. |
|
© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
