President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday officially commissioned the $94 million Exceptional Learners’ Centre (ELC) at Cotton Field in Region Two which is expected to benefit approximately 30 learners with special needs.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the facility, which is the first of its kind in the region, is equipped with the necessary amenities to accommodate learners on the spectrum, as well as those with disabilities and special sensitivities.
The release said that during his address, President Ali announced that differently-abled children in the ten administrative regions will soon have access to special buses to transport them to their respective special education facilities.
The ELC became a reality through a project that is being funded through the Basic Needs Trust Fund, which is a grant-funded programme by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
President Ali explained that the government aims to maximise the impact of this facility and as such, health services will be integrated with its educational operations, the release said.
He also reminded that children with special needs face significant barriers that have denied them the quality education they deserve and reiterated that his administration is committed to dismantling these barriers, providing them with the opportunities to realise their full potential, the DPI added.
Pointing to the recently established special needs swimming programme to boost therapy and rehabilitation at the Cyril Potter College of Education, he said that the government was looking to expand that initiative, the release said.
President of the Caribbean Development Bank Daniel Best said projects like these are at the heart of development and underscored the CDB’s mandate of transforming lives through inclusive, resilient and sustainable development, the release said.
“These types of interventions and others in communities like Cotton Field help to ensure that the country is moving forward together,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the DPI, previously the nearest specialised facility was the Special Education Needs Diagnostic Centre on the East Coast Demerara. The construction of the new facility was identified as a priority area so that early childhood education can be effectively delivered.
“This school is more than a building. It is a sanctuary of hope, acceptance and opportunity. It represents our collective dedication to nurturing the potential of every child and empowering them to achieve their potential,” the CDB president was quoted as saying.
Last March, a $94 million contract was signed with Builder’s Engineering & Architectural Consultancy for the school’s construction.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service Dr Ashni Singh and Minister of Education Priya Manick-chand were among the officials present at the ceremony.
