MOET has decided that 75 percent of disabled children will be educated by 2010, a figure that will increase to 90 percent by 2015. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), in the action plan for 2001-2015, decided that 75 percent of disabled children will be educated by 2010, a figure that will increase to 90 percent by 2015. However, this admirable goal is afflicted with numerous problems.

The children at School No 9 in District 11, HCM City

There are over 100 educational establishments for disabled children, including 30 special schools for the disabled in HCM City, both state-owned and non-state institutions. However, most schools seriously lack everything, from teaching aids, playthings, textbooks, to teachers, healthcare officers and babysitters.

According to Dr. Le Thi Minh Ha, Head of the Special Education Faculty of HCM City University of Education, the university has increased its training scale in recent years. Besides regular training, the university has been also providing in-service training courses and professional refresher courses. However, the number of teachers remains far from meeting demand. In last July, only 36 students graduated, while only 89 students have applied this year.

When asked why students do not want to study special education, Ha explained that, after finishing university, graduates who find jobs at special schools get salaries from the state budget, but those at normal schools do not. Therefore, schools that want teachers for special education classes must pay them from the schools’ budget. That explains why only a few schools dare to employ these teachers, while most graduates must work for private schools.

In the provinces, there are almost no special or integrated schools (where both normal and handicapped students study). Therefore, though requirements are low, very few students want to major in the field. “The lack of teachers for special education will continue,” Ha predicated.

In HCM City, Nursery School No. 8 in District 3 is one of the very few schools in the city that receives handicapped students. The school now has two special education teachers. Nguyen Nu Lan Huong, Headmaster, noted that, with current regulations, only teachers who have enthusiasm can stay in the job long-term.

Nursery school No. 9 in District 11 has just recruited a new teacher for special education. Previously, when the school had no special ed instructor, all the teachers and the school’s management board became involved in caring for the disabled children.

Dr. Phan Thieu Xuan Giang, a mental health expert in HCM City, remarked that disabled children need to be identified early for treatment and that the children need educational investment much more than normal children.

Special schools need special characteristics, including paths, toilets and teaching aids geared to special needs students. Meanwhile, most schools for the disabled lack the necessary material facilities.

Located in a small alley in District 12, Anh Duong Special School was once a private house. The school floods every time it rains. Hy Vong School in District 8 is only 216 square metre and lacks classrooms. The terrace is used as a reading room, playground and skill-based teaching as well.

Visual aids are very desirable at special education schools. “When we teach students about a tiger, we need to show students how tigers run and jump. Therefore, we asked for an overhead projector many times, but we still don’t have one,” observed Nguyen Anh Dung, Headmaster of Anh Duong School.

Source: Nguoi lao dong