Twenty teachers from across the island are currently undergoing training which will help them assist students in need of special education.
President of the Rotary Club of Orleans, Julia Ginley, told reporters that a team of specialists are in Dominica training teachers to assess children with special needs.
“We were here two years ago and at that time we trained teachers and parents to work with children particularly with autism,” she said. “This time we are actually training teachers to assess children with special needs, establish what level of skills they have in various areas including language and develop individualised learning plans.”
She noted that raising awareness for Down syndrome children is very important since people have to accept the fact that these children might not have the same abilities but they have other abilities and may require the tools and mechanism to get them to the next stage
Ginley also dismised the notion that sending Down Syndrome students to schools like that of the Alpha Center makes them worse.
She stated that although some students can adapt well in other schools, many of them benefit from the specialised attention that they receive from the Alpha Center.
Just a little clarification on the training and a few other comments made below.
There were five days of training on a very specialized tool designed to assist teachers in assessing a child’s skill levels in performing various tasks. Based on that assessment, the tool also provides guidance to the teachers on how to develop a learning plan to help that child improve their performance in carrying out the tasks.
I can see from the discussions that I have had with officials from the Ministry of Education in Dominica, that they working hard to develop an inclusive educational system that all Dominicans can be proud of. I would like to commend the Ministry on the work it is doing. The Rotary Club of Orleans is proud to be working with them. This is the second project that we have worked on together and we hope to continue our work with the Ministry to help improve the lives of those with special needs in Dominica.
I would also like to congratulate the staff at the Alpha Centre, the staff at the Isulukati School (Kalinago Territory) and those teachers from the regular schools and Ministry who seek to learn all that they can so that they may improve the lives of Special Needs Children on the Island. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you and look forward to working with you again.
Thank you
The training received at the Alpha Centre, was intended to offer a simple skills assessment for children with special needs. It was not about diagnosing a child with a disability. The people providing the training are professionals who specialize in this field.
1 day training is not sufficient. Their needs to be an entire system in place., It need not be a one man show neither. Things seem to be just so superficial so that it can make the news and then back to square one. It’s either we embrace it or leave it. The whole thing is a big joke.
Well Michael that is not the responsibility of the Rotary club to train or offer courses they are there to assist. I am sure there are people who will be very grateful but unfortunately there will always be people like you.
Just to clarify – this is not a one time-look-good event. It takes months in the making and this is just the continuity/permanent support that kids with special needs receive on the island of Dominica. I’m extremely proud of the work of the Rotary Club of Orleans (Canada), the Rotary Club of Roseau, and the Rotary Club of Portsmouth. Now, I do agree that more training / specialized education is needed for the island, and I’m happy that our Rotary Club is there doing such an extensive hardwork to make a difference. Aren’t you happy that something positive is being done? Let’s be grateful.
There is no way a professional can will train u to do something in 5 mins knowing that it takes yrs of study to be competent on the job. Any professional will tell a gov’t you need to hire another professional to assess special Ed students. These complex special testing and meetings cannot be done by a regular teacher. A teacher should never diagnose a child without receiving a professional license which requires yrs of study.
Those Rotary ppl are in this for themselves, they take trips thinking they are helping, then pat themselves on the back and drink a cocktail thinking they have helped a poor island/country.
Did you see it said specialists -they are offering there expertise -emparting knowledge.There are not offering a course or charging a fee to attend. They want to help and dominica needs help.There is no need to be so ungrateful, by the way, Since you seem to know so much why aren’t you assisting. Maybe then you can give yourself that much needed pat on your back and you might just feel a whole lot better.
I agree that to diagnose a child with a learning disability takes time and expertise – maybe these teachers are on the first stage to becoming these competent professionals.
My real complaint is with your characterization that these “Rotary ppl” are in this for themselves. I have watched these people spent the last 2 years raising funds to buy books for the Alpha Centre, reference material for this course, travel and accommodations – some of this from their own pockets.
Should they pat themselves on the back – They don’t have too, the people that they have help (Alpha Centre) do that for them. Your people.
Put down your own cocktail, get involved and help your own “poor island/country”.
The alpha centre is a beacon of hope in Dominica -the staff and teachers are so involved with the well being of the children.So pleased they are getting extra coaching.
Why are some Dominican(s) so stupid?.
Domimica, learn to appreciate. we’ll always be talked about in a negative manner if we continue to be ungrateful. May I ask, what more do you expect from this group of people?. learn to appreciate the little things and the big ones will come/happen.
People of
So then Ms. Dominica did not do her homework before her speech this week to note that training was already in place then.
The training is being done by a visiting Rotary Club. What Miss Dominica was asking for was more comprehensive training in special-ed involving the UWI Open Campus and the Ministry of Education.
While the training by the visiting Rotary Club is welcomed, it is simply not enough.
Did you actually read and get some more background on the info or you just shooting from the hips?
That’s great news. We truly need to address these issues and not isolate or abandon these children. They need all the help they can get/ Thanks Ms.Ginley.