Special enrolments

 By DOROTHY MARK 

MORE children with disabilities have been enrolled in primary school and the disability centre in Madang this year, it was reported.

Lutheran Day, the only primary school in the province that has enrolled such students, has increased its 2016 intake to eight from five last year. 

Many more were attached to the school’s deaf unit where they were rehabilitated and later promoted to the regular classes.

School headmaster Peter Siwi said the school was only trying to support the Government’s policy of inclusive education by involving students with disabilities.

“We have eight students in our school now in grades four to six and have additional teachers assigned to teach in classes they were put in,” Siwi said.

Grade four teacher Joanne Salaiau said she was first assigned to teach a grade five class but because of these special students 

she was shifted to grade four because she knew sign language and would better communicate with them.

Special sign language teacher at the Creative Self-Help Centre Roselyn Willie said more students have enrolled at the centre this year.

“I thank The National newspaper for the good publicity last year and as a result of that more students enrolled this year,” Willie said.

She said parents who felt there was no hope for their children were now bringing them to the centre. 

Willie said two students attending the regular classes at Lutheran Day would need hearing devices to make hearing better for them but otherwise all of them would depend on their sign language teachers. 

Siwi said the special children needed every help from their families, society and government to get the same level of education and employment just like the able students.

He said he was happy and proud his school was helping these people.