Children with disabilities must continue to dream Paola Frantzi told President Nikos Christodoulides during an event at the Presidential Palace, on Thursday, on special education and inclusion. Frantzi is the head of integrated education at KYSOA, the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled. She suffers from quadriplegia, is a holder of three degrees and currently studies for her PhD, as head of KYSOA Themis Anthopoulou said introducing her.
Speaking during the event, President Christodoulides announced the establishment of the Special Education and Inclusion Unit at the Ministry of Education, which will include all existing Special Education structures and services that currently operate in parallel. He noted that the aim is to have a common point of reference for parents.
Paola Frantzi spoke about her own experience in special education, the support she had from some of her teachers and the problems and difficulties she was faced with. She said that by seeing the positives in education, students will be able to face the problems as well.
Frantzi said that she dared to dream and continued doing so and she succeeded and now has a job. “The role of the education system is not only to complete your education and studies but also to give you the appropriate resources to enter the labour market,” she noted.
In his speech, the President of the Republic said that he wanted to listen to the children, their own experiences, thoughts and what they want to change. He added that these suggestions will be taken into account in the consultation that is already underway for the modernisation of Special Education legislation.
He said that he had concerns about Special Education from when he assumed office and for this reason the government took measures for an increase in school aides, specifically 474 additional positions in primary and 105 in secondary education. Among the decisions taken are also the continuous training of teachers, school assistants and aides, so that the daily support in the classroom is more substantial and qualitative.
President Christodoulides also referred to the construction of two new school units of the Special School of Apostolos Loukas and the Special School of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Limassol, recalling that all Special Schools now also operate in the summer, making it easier for families. He also recalled that a decision was taken for the schooling of children with disabilities up to the age of 22 and the right to parental leave for children with disabilities up to the age of 21.
As regards the special unit, with the participation of the Ministers of Education, Trade, Labour, Health and the Deputy Minister of Welfare, so that mid-July, the latest, the government will present a comprehensive proposal.
KYSOA Head Themis Anthopoulou in her comments said that no voice is louder, more honest, more interactive than the voice of the children who claim their own rights. She said that the future of Cyprus is its children and no discrimination should be made for children with disabilities.
Anthopoulou said that the consultation takes place on the basis of the 1999 legislation long before the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities. She also said that behind and next to each of the children with disabilities there are parents fighting for their rights.
A discussion followed in the presence of parliamentarians, the Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister of Welfare and Social Insurance, the Deputy Minister to the President, the Ombudswoman and other officials.
Moreover a statement by the Presidency, says that in the final comment at the conclusion of the discussion, the President of the Republic said that he noted five points that he considers key for the subsequent course of the bill. These include a more personalised assessment and personalised solutions, building a culture where no bullying is tolerated, the responsibility of teachers and the future of children after the age of 22.
He also said that a new meeting would take place for assessment.