Ministry of Education Champions Access and Equity in Special Education Week 2023

The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports is steadfast in its dedication to creating an inclusive educational environment that promotes the success of every student.

With a keen focus on access and equity, the ministry is gearing up for Special Education Week 2023, where the theme will be “Accessibility and Equity: A spectrum of possibilities.”

Dr. Marcia Potter, the Permanent Secretary, emphasized the ministry’s goal to enhance its human capital through professional development opportunities while concurrently expanding access and ensuring equitable support for all students. The commitment to strengthening special education is evident in the recent completion of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commonwealth of Learning Assistive Technology course by seven Special Education Teachers in July. This course is designed to identify and implement low-cost, low-tech devices to aid the learning process for students with special needs, commonly referred to as the Introduction to Assistive Technology.

Acting Chief Education Officer Mrs. Orlandette Crabbe highlighted the ministry’s ongoing dedication to special education needs, aiming to raise public awareness during the upcoming week while offering support to the community of individuals with special needs.

The schedule of activities for the week is as follows:

• Monday, November 27: Special Education Week Commences
• Monday, November 27 – Friday, December 1: Special Education Myth and Fact Special on the Government of the Virgin Islands Facebook page.
• Tuesday, November 28: Schools engage in activities; Panel discussion
• Wednesday, November 29: Special Education Word Recognition and General Knowledge Contest.
• Thursday, November 30: Special Education Video Highlights on the Government of the Virgin Islands Facebook page.
• Friday, December 1: Fun Night: Equity for all events at Cedar International School from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.