The Office of the Secretary of State for Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH), in partnership with the Organization of American States (OAS), reflects on the development of a training module on the teaching of children with special educational needs.

Several specialized actors in the field of special education working with the BSEIPH on this issue including the Commission of School Adaptation and of Social Support (CASAS), the Special Education Centre (CES) and the Haitian Society of Assistance to the Blind (SHAA).

This module should be integrated into the initial training of Haitian teachers. This is an important step towards a integrated schooling of children with special needs. In Haiti, according to a survey conducted by the CASAS of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, published in 1998, less than 5% of disabled children old enough to go in school attending an educational institution.

The lack of adequate facilities, but also of pedagogical training specialized for teachers, participates in this state of affairs. There are only 23 special schools and Rehabilitation centers for disabled people, including 3 public (all operating mainly in Port-au-Prince). The number of teachers trained in special education, is 298 on the 46.919 evolving in the first two cycles of the fundamental according to the investigation of the CASAS...

HL/ HaitiLibre