trends & challenges inclusion in uae

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All images © Mat Wright

Trends & Challenges in Teacher Education for INCLUSION in the UAE

Dr Nadera Alborno American University in Dubai December 2015

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Contents •  UAE Legal Basis for Special Education

•  “School for ALL” – Teacher Preparation for Inclusion

•  Achievements & Challenges

•  Current trends

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1.  UAE Constitution (14/1996) (Welfare &

social security)

2.  Federal Law (29/2006) (Rights of People

with Special Needs)

3.  Federal Law (14/2009) (Rights of People

with Disabilities)

4.  Federal Law (116/2009) (Ratification of

UN (CRPD))

5.  “School for All” (2010) (Special Education

Programs and Services)  

UAE Legal Basis for Special Education

+Special Education Provisions in the UAE

Provisions for Students with Disabilities

Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA)

Federal Government (5 centres, 564 students)

Local Government (13 centres, 1,288 students)

Non-profitable (2 centres, 1, 743 students)

Private Sector (21 centres, 1,400 students)

Ministry of Education

(MOE)

Government Schools

Special Classrooms

Resource Rooms

Inclusive mainstream classrooms

Private Schools

“School For All” Provisions

Staff Training &

Development

School Structures

Students Placement

Accommodations &

Modifications

Support Services

Speech Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Educational Psychologist

Physiotherapy

Assistive Technolog

y

Smart boards, Braille coders, enlargement

printers, special education kits,

hearing impairment kit, special tables ,

laptop computers for

CP, special pens

Community

Awareness

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Teacher Preparation for Inclusion n “School for ALL”

n  Training Portfolio احلقيبة التدريبة •  General Rules for the provisions of special

education/ Special Education Categories/ Evaluation & Observation/ IEP/ Behaviour Modification/ Modifications & Adaptations/ Differentiation & Class Management / LD/ Case Studies)

n  National Cadre Program الكوادرالوطنية •  Sensory Impairment (Visual & Hearing) •  Autism / Down Syndrome •  Learning Disabilities / Mental Disabilities •  Language & Speech Disorders

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+Teacher Preparation for Inclusion

www.britishcouncil.org

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Year 2009 / 2010 2010 / 2011 2011 / 2012 2012 / 2013 2015 (expected)

Inclusive Schools

10 28 50 114 420

Students 7,009 8,019 9,282

Training Portfolio الحقيبة التدريبة §  28 training Centres §  Every Tuesday/ Wednesday §  25-40 Public School teachers / 5 -15 Private §  2011 – All KG teachers §  2013 / 2014 – 82% of teachers in all cycles National Cadre Program الكوادرالوطنية §  70 teachers yearly Timeline of ‘School for All’ progress

+Achievements – ‘School for ALL’

Inclusive Cultures •  Friendly school climate •  Respect & support

among stakeholders Inclusive Policies •  Induction policy for

students & parents •  Assessment based on

IEP – Age appropriate •  Physical accessibility Inclusive Practices •  Variation in teaching

strategies •  Collaboration with

parents & community

+Challenges §  Quality of Training

§  Shortage of specialists (OT/ ST/ PT)

§  Limited experience of special education teachers in leading class management & teachers’ collaboration.

§  Parents limited involvement & fear of social stigma.

www.britishcouncil.org

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+ Current trends – The way forward

§  Advances in technology,

§  Mindset of the local population,

§  Demand for more inclusive classrooms,

§  Requirement for teacher certification.

www.britishcouncil.org

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