Government to establish SEND centres in all regions within 5 years

The Government plans to establish a Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Centre in every administrative region within the next five years, reaffirming its commitment to providing inclusive education. Education Minister Sonia Parag said this initiative outlined in the Government’s manifesto is already underway, with several centres currently operating across the nation. Region Five (Mahaica–Berbice), she noted, already has three SEND centres in operation. The Minister highlighted that the Government’s approach to education goes beyond students with traditional academic achievements, ensuring that children with special needs have access to opportunities that will aid them in reaching their academic milestones. “I think that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government has always placed emphasis on learning and educational development, not only for students who have academic accolades, but also those who are special in their needs; and so we want to be able to, and this is not now, we have a promise in our manifesto to ensure that in the next five years we are going to establish a SEND Centre in every single region,” the Minister announced. Speaking about her recent visit to the SEND centre in Blairmont, Minister Parag described being impressed by the level and quality of care meted out to the children there. She noted that the centre cares for children of varying ages and needs and highlighted the role trained teachers play in supporting the lives of both parents and the children. According to Parag, there have been reports from parents saying that they have seen immense improvement not only in their children’s development but also in their ability to support and manage their children outside the classroom environment.

Minister Parag reported, “The parents are coming to me and saying, ‘This teacher has done so well. They have taught not only the children how to manage, but they have also taught the parents how to manage outside of the class environment and outside of the school environment. So, this is working for us. And it is because of the investment. It is because of us making this a priority.” She also underscored the importance of having trained teachers in special needs education, pointing to ongoing efforts to increase the availability of such teachers. During a recent outreach in Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), the Minister met with a teacher who had recently completed her specialised training in the field and may soon take up a leadership role in a community SEND centre. The Education Minister described the next five years as a critical time for the advancement of special needs education in Guyana, expressing confidence that the expanded SEND network will provide the necessary environment for children with special needs to thrive. “So it’s wonderful. I am looking forward to it, and I can’t say – I can’t emphasise how much the Government – this means to the Government and how much we want to be able to see this particular initiative develop for them,” Parag added. The SEND expansion aligns with the Government’s broader inclusive education agenda, which recently saw the commissioning of the YAS School of Inspiration.
“Our philosophy is to treat, in an equitable manner, every child and every citizen, and that is why these investments are so important. The YAS School of Inspiration is an embodiment of that covenant. It will foster understanding in a world that often fears difference. It will nurture potential where unique minds are not seen as limited but as wired for wonders we are only beginning to comprehend,” President Dr Ali had said at its commissioning ceremony, while also highlighting plans by the First Family to create the environment that will facilitate and foster an ecosystem of facilities, including a specialised recreational park for children with disabilities from across Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara).