Transforming special schools into Support Centres

The project advocated for the establishment of support centres or the transformation of special schools into support centres in 18 districts of three provinces in Vietnam. MCNV provided technical support for the centres to mandate the early detection, early intervention, and support for Inclusive Education for children with disabilities.

Problems Targeted

The project targets four key problems affecting children with disabilities: (1) the late detection of developmental delays and disabilities, (2) low school enrolment rates, (3) poor academic performance, and (4) high drop-out rates.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The project advocated for the establishment of support centres or the transformation of special schools into support centres, and provided technical support for the centres to mandate the early detection, early intervention, and support for Inclusive Education for children with disabilities. The project staff conducts three groups of activities. The first group targets children under the age of six in communities and kindergartens to identify symptoms of developmental delays and disabilities so that early intervention activities can be provided or they can be referred to suitable services. All of these children are prepared for inclusion in the community and most can make inclusion a reality for themselves. The second group of activities targets children with disabilities who can join mainstream education or are already in mainstream schools to provide them with intensive teaching aimed at their specific needs, and also to provide their teachers and educators with expertise in special needs education. The third group targets children with severe disabilities in special schools or support centres by providing them with specific special schooling appropriate to their needs and according to the type and degree of disability.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Three more districts of Phu Yen provinces will be supported in 2016, and around 500 more teachers, health workers, and representatives from various sectors will be provided with short training courses on disability in 2015 and 2016. Project staff also want to withdraw support from one of the three centres, leaving it to be managed by the government both technically and financially.