Inclusive education knowledge to teachers is vital to ensure all children enjoy their learning and that no child is left out of education opportunities.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) aims to improve access to quality education for all children regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or vernacular and implemented the policy and reached four provinces in 2021.
The work to cover the rest is ongoing to ensure teachers and school leaders are better equipped to provide inclusive education in all classrooms throughout the country.
Through the Strongim Education Project (SET), World Vision Solomon Islands is working to support the national government's ongoing plans to support the implementation of this policy.
The project is working with five schools in Makira Ulawa Province. Among other activities which the project has been implementing, the project ensures that teachers, school leaders, and parents from these schools are equipped with the knowledge to provide a learning environment that is inclusive to all students despite the different disabilities a child may have.
The teachers learnt about Inclusive Education Self-Learning Module for Teachers. The module covered two parts, with part A giving ideas on how to assist individual children in reaching their full learning potential and make the classroom more inclusive. That part also provides ideas on how to manage classrooms and develop a classroom environment more inclusive of teaching and learning. On the other side, the module's part B points out issues that may arise in the classroom for children with a learning impairment and suggests ways to help them with their learning.
The training covered topics like referral pathways, classroom-supportive inclusive education, barriers to inclusive education, and the policies of MERHD in addressing issues with inclusive education. The sessions also allow the Ministry of Health's Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) officers in Kirakira to present their work supporting inclusive education, especially the referral pathways to service providers.
"Now you are equipped with the knowledge; therefore, when you go home, start implementing the knowledge at your schools and not wait for responsible authorities," Mrs. Gladys encourages school leaders.
The training attendees included school principals, Head Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, and other Grade Two teachers of the five targeted schools.
World Vision Solomon Islands acknowledges the support of the Solomon Islands Education Sector Support Program (ESSP)– a partnership between the Governments of Solomon Islands, Australia, and New Zealand that enables it to work with the five schools. The project is expected to benefit 1,242 people by the end of the project.
Source: Press Release, World Vision Solomon Islands