Education dept puts plans in place to deal with struggling learners
Learners with ADHD and dyscalculia need to be given extra care and time, says spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Gauteng education says it has policies in place to deal with learners with special needs.
The provincial and national policies have been set up to solely focus on identification, assessment, support and screening,” spokesperson Steve Mabona told Rekord.
“Learners with ADHD need support in terms of the challenges it poses to their ability to master the curriculum, deal with the assessment, and examination processes, sensory challenges, and even challenges with behaviour,” Mabona said.
He said one form of support that the department was providing was to make specific allowances for learners during learning and assessment.
“It is important to note that this is a deviation from the curriculum and assessment policies and would require approval from the presiding officer. However, detailed diagnostic and other relevant reports will then be required,” said Mabona.
He said in every school, a support team should be established to oversee support to learners and indicate what training was required.
Mabona said learners diagnosed with dyscalculia (disability to learn math) and requiring support in public schools, were less than 10 per annum in Gauteng.
Teachers at Olievenhoutbosch primary schools recently told Rekord that the majority of them failed to support learners with these challenges as they didn’t know how to deal with them.
Eunice Khumalo (not real name) said previously when she would encounter a struggling learner she would think the child was not smart until one of her colleagues brought the issues of ADHD and dyscalculia to her attention.
“I have learned now, and I am prepared to do more to understand different kinds of kids. I just wish our government would invest in our children’s education system to deal with such kids properly.”
Khumalo said as teachers they also needed to give their time and the undivided attention they needed most.
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