UAE | Education
Parents 'devastated' as school shuts down special needs section
Emirates English Speaking School is shutting down its special needs section after 15 years, leaving parents concerned about the future of their children.
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff reporter
- Published: 15:12 February 6, 2008
Dubai: Forty-three special needs pupils will be forced to leave their school by the end of this academic year as the special education section at their school is closing down.
After 15 years, Emirates English Speaking School [EESS] has decided to close down its special needs section, which currently serves pupils with different learning disabilities.
Parents have asked authorities to take action since they are concerned about the future of their children.
In a written statement to Gulf News, S.S.U. Tabrez, the principal of the school, stated that "due to acute constraints of space we are closing the centre [Emirates English Speaking Centre for Special Needs] with prior approval from the Ministry of Social Affairs which is the licensing authority."
The parent of a five-year-old girl with Down syndrome said the school has good academic standards and has helped many special needs children. However, "the sudden decision to close down the section is ... devastating."
"Some of our children have borderline learning and behavioural disorders, whereby they do not fit into any institution and need to be in the company of regular school goers and EESS provides the perfect environment for their progress," said A.M., a parent. In the same written statement, Tabrez said "now that people are aware of such problems, there are about 30 such special needs centres and parents were provided with a list of centres and fax numbers of approved centres available."
"I quit my job to help my daughter with her education by standing outside her classroom till she got used to the new environment, it takes a long time for a special needs child to adapt to their new surroundings. And now they want to remove her from the place she cherishes," said a parent.
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