Special-education teachers lack necessary classroom skills

Special-education teachers lack the necessary classroom skills, a scientific study reports. The findings are based on the preliminary results of a study that aims to develop a training programme for the special education teachers.

"It is anticipated that teachers in the UAE are not properly equipped," the researchers said.

The study's results - along with statistical analyses - will soon be released, said Dr Samir Jabra Duqmaq and Dr Imad Mohammad Al Ghazo from the department of special education at UAE University (UAEU).

The project was financed by UAEU's research affairs section to develop an experimental training programme for special-education teachers. These trained professionals will help the researchers complete the project.

The programme uses a new teaching system based on a behavioural approach called Education of the Developmentally Young.

This approach has been developed through a five-year research project at the University of Manchester, England.

The researchers gathered their information through a teacher questionnaire and observed classrooms operating under various educational programmes.

Research objectives
* Identify teaching approach. Identify teaching techniques, such as planning sessions and analysing tasks, as well as prompting, shaping and recording children's progress.

* Describe classroom management. Study the relationship between teachers and students.

* Examine progress made by students and whether the students retained what they learned.

* Describe the influence of the teacher's educational background and the teacher's field of study and their teaching experience.