(MENAFN- Bidaya Corporate Communications) Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme, British Council Jordan organised an inclusion webinar for MENA policy makers.
The INCLUSION AND COVID-19 webinar focused on what policy makers and system leaders can do to create an inclusive plan for schools. This webinar took place virtually on Teams Microsoft and brough together 33 policy makers from the MENA region.
The speakers were Dr. Sami Al Mahasis (MOE), Ms Alia Zureikat and Ms Ghadeer Al Haris (HCD), Dr Kawther Marashdeh (UNRWA) in Jordan. Speakers highlighted mechanisms and techniques to create an inclusive plan for schools to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The speakers shared the challenges faced by SEND children as a result of lockdown, the current situation in schools and solutions that their organizations have put in place. They also presented the communication plans between the schools and parents, adapting curricula, online distance learning and catch up programmes in sign language taking into consideration visual and hearing impairments and by providing psychosocial services.
Dr. Sami Al Mahasis emphasized on the importance of the Ministry’s collaboration with HCD on developing and implementing the National Strategy (2020-2030) and as a result 2,1000 SEND student were included in the school education in 2020/21 school year.
HCD speakers presented the challenges faced by SEND students and the interventions to resolve those challenges through E-learning programmes as well as the plan for the upcoming 3 years of implementing the 10 years inclusive education strategy.
Dr Kawther Marashdeh talked about UNRWA’s strategic opportunities for inclusive education, the different inclusive activities implemented with SEND students and parents during COVID-19 Lock down and the main faced challenges.
"This webinar was a fantastic opportunity to share experiences from Jordan on how stakeholders are operationalizing the right for every child to an education especially in the time of Covid 19 which has exacerbated inequalities for learners. Our partnerships through Connecting Classrooms in Jordan are long standing and Inclusive Pedagogies’ is a clear priority especially now”. May Abu Hamdeia, Jordan British Council “
The recommendations were around building capacities of teachers and parents on how to improve communication and collaboration during Covid-19 Lock down and ensure technical accessibility settings are available in relation to technology and educational videos for the E-learning and provide phycological support to the SEND students families.
As well as focus on partial and full SEND inclusion processes by creating special classes, where students with disabilities receive educational, while working to provide them with the opportunity to integrate with their peers in some classroom and extra-curricular activities. These classes may apply the regular curriculum or special curricula. In addition, to have students with disabilities receive educational in regular classes, considering some modifications and arrangements on the physical environment, curricula, teaching methods and educational support methods to suit their needs. These classes apply general education curricula.
MENAFN08112020004217002855ID1101090934
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.