Education policy 'fails some children'

ONE-IN-THREE children with an intellectual disability fail to make the transition from primary to secondary school, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

A study of 1,363 children with an intellectual disability in mainstream schools found 481 were unable make it to second level.

Of those who transferred from mainstream schools to special schools, 215 were under 12 years of age, 249 were under 15 and 17 were under 18.

The study was presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science by the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, an umbrella group for voluntary and non-statutory organisations providing services to people with an intellectual disability.

Maura Nash, chairwoman of the organisation's education sub-committee, said the study revealed shortcomings in the State's inclusive mainstream education policy.

"The system is failing some children because the range of supports they need are not being provided.

"The transition from primary to secondary school is a particularly difficult challenge for a children with an intellectual disability because they are going from one class with one teacher to 12 classes or more."

The organisation wants special school resources to be freed up and used to directly support mainstream schools in educating people with disabilities.

Dual enrolment models should also be examined with special and mainstream schools facilitating greater integration based on each individual child's needs.

The study also found 500 children are on a waiting list for educational and support services provided by member organisations.

Ms Nash said the waiting list could be eliminated with adequate resources.

"The provision of such services, particularly during children's formative years, is crucial," she said.

The committee also heard all of the federation's member organisations had experienced a significant increase in the number of children from non-English speaking backgrounds being referred to their services.

One member organisation in Dublin said children from non-English speaking backgrounds now represented 40% of new referrals.

Oireachtas committee member Damien English (Fine Gael) claimed some children with an intellectual disability had been "blocked" from some secondary schools because members of the board of management felt they would hold back other children.

Chairman Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fáil) said the federation's report represented the starting point of the formulation of a coordinated policy on the educational needs of children with an intellectual disability.