Education is the basic right of every child, irrespective of abilities. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this right is being translated into action through collective efforts to foster special needs education in UAE. The government, schools, and private organizations are all coming together to ensure that special needs children receive the care, dignity, and quality education that they are rightfully eligible for.
Inclusive education is such that every child, whether or not they have physical, learning, behavioural, or emotional difficulties, can learn together in inclusive settings. The UAE is doing a great job of making this vision a reality.
The UAE’s National Policy for Inclusive Education
In 2017, the UAE launched a national policy empowering individuals of determination (the term used respectfully for disabled people). The policy expressly laid out that special needs pupils should be mainstreamed into all schools across the country.
The objective is simple: no child shall be left behind. Public and private schools now have the challenge—and in many cases, the mandate—to take in students with special needs and equip them with the appropriate assistance. Special education staffs, teacher training, and accessible school buildings are all becoming more common.
More Opportunities Through Training and Courses
To produce an inclusive system, schools require trained teachers and staff. This is why special needs education courses in Dubai are increasingly becoming accessible. These courses equip teachers, therapists, and parents with the knowledge on how to handle children with various learning needs.
From the acquisition of knowledge on autism and ADHD to the use of special teaching aids to instruction with special teaching tools, including the Integra Learning System, these courses prepare one to handle real challenges. Training courses vary from short and low-key to professional diplomas or degree courses. They all aim to increase educational quality for children with special needs.
The Role of Specialised Centres
While schools in the mainstream are also making significant improvements, specialist centres have a crucial role to play as well in providing focused care. A Dubai education centre for special needs delivers tailored teaching, therapy, and support for those children that require special care.
These centres would prefer to have interaction with schools and parents to create an individualised education plan (IEP) for each child. They could offer speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavior support, and educational tutoring. All children are assisted to become confident and achieve their potential.
Inclusion Beyond the Classroom
Inclusive education, however, isn’t an education in classrooms—it’s making the child feel respected and valued in society. Inclusive sporting events, cultural days, and awareness days are being planned in the UAE to spread the message of acceptance.
And apart from creating inclusive places in schools, many are also teaching children empathy, kindness, and accepting differences. And this makes a society that cares for each individual irrespective of their background.
Government and Private Support Working Together
The most valuable component of the UAE strategy is probably the collaborative partnership between the public and private sectors. The public education department, the Ministry of Education, and the private sector schools are all working collaboratively with one another to improve special needs services.
Besides that, there are the legislations protecting the rights of people of determination in schools, the workplace, and public places. The legislations grant immunity to children with disabilities to be able to avail themselves of equal opportunities and accessibility to education.
Conclusion: Partner With Specialisted Education for a Brighter Future
Establishing an inclusive education system is time-consuming, involves training, and requires sufficient resources. The UAE is indeed moving in this direction and thus is among the leading countries in the region that cater to children with special needs.
At Specialisted Education, we believe that all children deserve to be educated and to be successful. We offer excellent support, training, and individually designed education plans for children with special needs.
If you are a parent, teacher, or school head looking to learn more and/or acquire the proper assistance for a child, Specialisted Education can help. We are pleased to be part of the growing trend of inclusive education in the UAE.
Contact Specialisted Education today and start building a brighter, more inclusive future for your child.