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 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 Project Community Law Centre University of the Western Cape (021) (t)