DSEJ pledges investment in special education

The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) has pledged that it will continue increasing the amount of resources invested into the special education sector, and will ensure it can better respond to expectations from parents and the wider community through close cooperation with related sectors.
In a statement issued yesterday, the bureau said it will “provide more support to the parents concerned about special education, and will strengthen the training of teachers, so that they can identify as early as possible the students who are in need of special education.”
The DSEJ is carrying out a public consultation this month to revise and improve the special education system in Macau. The current assessment system for students with special needs and the revised draft of the scheme have both drawn serious criticism from related associations, as well as from parents, because its lacks of direction and inclusive policies.
The bureau explained in its statement that its professional team would provide assessments and “educational arrangements” for students with difficulties. These assessments would be arranged with related personnel including medical staff, and tailored according to the students’ “problems” in terms of language, muscle coordination, and physical function.
It also said that the recently held explanatory sessions have generated active participation from the public. “These opinions and suggestions will be appropriately integrated into the draft; as for the specific implementation, the DSEJ will follow the guidelines and take into consideration social and educational development,” it stated. As the Times reported yesterday, the consultation document on revising the local special education system has drawn serious criticism from associations and educators.