Please use the “Email this article to a friend” button at the end of this article and help us let your friends or family know about this event, especially those who may have children with disabilities.
From Maruah:
Dear all,
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on 3 December 2009. We at MARUAH (Singapore Working Group for ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism) are keen to build on the efforts by many actors who have been advocating on behalf of children with disabilities. In that context we would like to to invite you to attend a Focus Group discussion on Compulsory Education for Children with Disabilities in Singapore.
Under Singapore’s current Compulsory Education Act (2003), ‘any child who is unable to attend any national primary school due to any physical or intellectual disability’ is excluded.
At this stage, we hope to garner support for children with physical disabilities to be included in Singapore’s Compulsory Education Act. This is also in line with the Convention on the Rights of Children, which Singapore is a signatory party. We also hope to gather comments and feedback on special education in Singapore.
Day/ Date: Sat 28 Nov
Time: 1.30 – 3.30pm
Venue: Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967 (near Singapore Art Museum)
Facilitator: Ms Braema Mathi
Agenda for the Focus Group discussion:
1. Presentation of MARUAH’s paper on Compulsory Education for Children with Disabilities
2. Feedback from the participants on the paper
3. Any other issues or concerns of the participants
We are looking for the following Focus Group participants:
a) Any individuals with disabilities (physical and/or intellectual)
b) Parents of children with disabilities (physical and/or intellectual)
c) Educators of children with disabilities
d) Educators of non-disabled children
e) Members of VWOs focused on individuals with disabilities
f) Any other concerned individuals with experience in this area
If you are in one of the above categories and are able to make it for this Focus Group discussion, please send an email to Lisa Li (lisalee80@gmail.com ) with your Name, Handphone number, and which category you are in (please provide details).
Your feedback and discussion would be really helpful to further our understanding of this issue, so that we can best represent your views.
Looking forward to a fruitful and meaningful discussion on 28 November
Thanks! Do also help us pass this email on to people who are interested in this issue.
Regards,
The MARUAH team
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Visit Maruan’s website here. http://maruah.org/
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22/11/09
All handicapped children must be fully supported from small till old age and their demise, and all forms of aids must be offered to their parents and after their demise, to those who continue to care for these handicapped people and the State of Singapore must ensure this at all costs. I know what I am talking about as I have was helping out in a handicapped school after my GCE O Level and honest, these are fantastic children and very innoncence.
Regards
Andrew
The question is whether all Singaporeans have a duty of care towards these children. The State has no responsibility except when its members (the citizens) have that responsibility.
It amazes me that we even have to discuss this. Shouldn’t the education of children with special needs already be part of compulsory primary education? Why does the government fail to serve this segment of society? Are they worth any less than an able-bodied child? Providing funding to VWOs to manage the schools is different from actually having MOE manage the schools. Why does our government always outsource these responsibilities?
there seems to be a fundamental lack of understanding of the Compulsory Education Act in Singapore and its objectives. The Act is a regulatory one – why would any parent with a disabled child want to be forced to send his child to compulsory education at risk of being fined? there are enough parents who are happy to be exempted from this Act – watch out for a backlash if Maruah misrepresents their interests.
what does Maruah’s paper suggest for Singapore?
The main issue is that all governments recognise that if there is a mandate, it must be funded.
When the Singapore government mandates bcg or measles vaccination for example, it is obliged to provide this for the poor or those unable to afford it.
Similarly, compulsory education for disabled children, if mandated will have to be provided. That is what the parents want. They do not want charity or pity.
They want an equal right for their children to develop and become productive members of our Society – as our aspirational pledge puts it – one based on justice and equality to achieve happiness, progress and prosperity for our nation.
Please have a look at Mr Brown’s column on this issue to get a better understanding of this:
http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2004/11/today_vsad_hear.html