Further Recommndations and Commentary from the Special Education Report ... See Part I, Below - The Minister of Education enhance the resources and supports presently in place for the Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD) Program to ensure that all students requiring this program have access.
The Report notes that the funding for the SLD program has not increased for 10 years. Thus, many students who could benefit from the program are denied access. An "examination of service delivery models within each school board" is recommended "with a view to expanding more flexible placement and programming options".
And given the often tumultuous relationship between the educational system and the phsychologists at the IWK, it is interesting to note that the Commission acknowledges "the health professionals within the Clinical Neurosciences Centre at the IWK fHealth Sciences Centre for their succinct wording around this issue".
- The Department conduct a Board by Board audit of the role and assignment of teacher assistants.
Apparently the Committee is concerned that a "competitve educational marketplace" has been created around the assignment and supervision of teacher assistant services. "Competitive" ... sure, we can agree with that.
- The Minister enhance the services and supports presently in place for the Severe Learning Disabilities Support Program to ensure that all students requiring this service have access.
The Committee wants clarity brought to the role of teacher assistants and cautions that it would be detrimiental to the system if the number of teaching assistants were reduced without a corresponding increase in the number of teaching staff. I suppose it would be. And, as noted in the Report, it would be equally or even more detrimental to our children.
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