Helping trainees to handle those with special needs would be ‘the right move’

DUBAI // Educators and parents are calling for a mandatory course for trainee teachers on the requirements of special needs students.

According to recent research by the British University in Dubai, 68 per cent of teachers surveyed had negative feelings about teaching children with special needs. The two main reasons were fear and a lack of training to help them handle the mentally and physically disabled.

Dr Catherine Hill, dean of education at American University Dubai (AUD), said there was “a reluctance to address special needs” in the UAE.

“We want to reshape teacher education in the Arab world through these new core courses,” she said.

In the United States, it is compulsory for teachers to complete a course in inclusion and special needs but there is no such law in the UAE. That means that schools rely on a small number of staff who have the necessary training.

Dr Cambria Russell, who trains teachers for Government schools, said setting up a special needs course for trainee teachers would be a step in the right direction.

She said the teachers she had spoken to had mixed feelings about the new inclusion policies. “Many believe in the policy in theory. Many agree that students with special needs should not be excluded,” she said.

“Teachers are now expected to meet the needs of an even more diverse group of students than ever before. To do this successfully, they need specialised training.”

Nahla El Hawary, a teacher at public schools for two decades, said special needs courses would be vital for new teachers.

“Especially in Government schools, everyone is talking about inclusion,” said Ms El Hawary, who is studying for a master’s degree in education at AUD. “But the teachers don’t get the professional development to cope with it, so they find themselves without any help.”

Hadi Mouawad, whose nine-year-old son Rayan is autistic, knows the struggles of schooling a child with special needs.

After being let down by the mainstream school system, Rayan is now being homeschooled.

“Most schools claim to have inclusion but that might include conditions like dyslexia or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), which are very different to a child with behavioural issues such as autism,” said Mr Mouawad.

“The schools aren’t equipped with teachers or even the [teaching assistants] trained to deal with children like Rayan. Whenever there was an issue with him, they would simply send him home, which didn’t support him at all.”

Mr Mouawad said educating more teachers to handle special needs pupils was vital. “Every school needs a percentage of the teachers with experience and expertise,” he said.

Khadija Yahya Alkamali, a public school teacher for 17 years, said special needs pupils were included in classrooms at her school, but more training for teachers was always welcome.

“Training teachers to tailor their teaching to meet the individual needs of students would definitely be of use,” she said.

mswan@thenational.ae