×
RECOGNITION, RESOURCES AND RESPECT FOR STUDENTS IN RESOURCE CENTRES!
Andrea W.
started this petition to
Hon. Clifton Grima, Ministry for Education and Sport
As a mother of a teenager who is about to leave Guardian Angel Resource Centre, and in the absence of a School Council to represent our students, I feel compelled to speak out—both on behalf of my child and the undersigned parents.
This is a particularly vulnerable group of students whose future is not receiving the attention and planning it urgently deserves.
This petition has been written with their needs in mind, and we hope it will also resonate with and support other parents facing similar concerns.
TO
Hon. Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport and Youth
Mr Matthew Vella, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth
Hon. Ms Julia Farrugia , Minister for Inclusion
Mr Mark Musu, Permanent Secretary for Social Policy and Children’s rights
Mr Anthony Gatt, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Inclusion
Hon. Justin Schembri, Shadow Minister for Education
Hon.Graziella Galea, Shadow Minister for Inclusion and NGOs
All Members of Parliament.
We applaud the new leadership team for the sterling work they are doing to improve things for our children, however they rely on the support and financial backing of the Minstry for Education to effect meaningful change.
We, undersigned parents, guardians, professionals and concerned citizens, call on the Ministry for Education, the Ministry for Inclusion, and Members of Parliament to demand urgent action and clear communication regarding the following critical issues.
We urgently demand:
Dikjarazzjoni tal-Petizzjoni:
Bħala omm ta’ żagħżugħ li dalwaqt se jħalli l-Guardian Angel Resource Centre, u fid-dawl tan-nuqqas ta’ Kunsill tal-Iskola li jirrappreżenta lill-istudenti tagħna, inħoss id-dmir li nitkellem – kemm f’isem ibni kif ukoll f’isem il-ġenituri li ffirmaw hawn taħt. Dan huwa grupp ta’ studenti partikolarment vulnerabbli li l-futur tagħhom mhux qed jingħata l-attenzjoni u l-ippjanar urġenti li jistħoqqilhom. Din il-petizzjoni nkitbet bil-bżonnijiet tagħhom f’moħħna, u nittamaw li sservi wkoll ta’ appoġġ għall-ġenituri l-oħra li qed jaffaċċjaw problemi simili.
Filwaqt li nirringrazzjaw il-Leadership gdid ta' Guardian Angel Resource Centre tal-hidma u l-entużjażmu taghhom, kif ukoll l-edukaturi kollha, dan it-tim jiddependi fuq l-appogg u l-finanzi li jircievu mid-dipartiment tal-Edukazzjoni, biex isiru bidliet sinifikanti.
Aħna, il-ġenituri, kustodji, professjonisti u ċittadini mħassba li ffirmajna hawn taħt, nappellaw lill-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, lill-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni u lill-Membri Parlamentari biex jiehdu azzjoni URĠENTI u jtuna komunikazzjoni ċara dwar dawn il-kwistjonijiet kritiċi:
KONFUŻJONI DWAR X'HA JSIR MIT-TFAL TAGHNA LA JITILQU MILL- G.A.
Il-ħatra għall-Education Resource Centre Dun Manwel Attard (Wardija) issa hija f’idejn bord. S’issa, il-ġenituri ghadhom fl-ghama dwar il-proċess – l-ebda spjegazzjoni tal-kriterji u l-ebda alternattiva vijabbli għal Wardija ma ġiet proposta. Dan in-nuqqas persistenti ta’ komunikazzjoni qed joħloq ansjetà kbira fost il-ġenituri, li diġà qed iġorru piż emozzjonali, finanzjarju u loġistiku kbir.
ĊENTRU MINGĦAJR RIŻORSI
Minkejja l-ilmenti ta’ diversi ġenituri dwar nuqqas ta’ riżorsi matul is-snin, it-talbiet tagħna jew ġew injorati jew miċħuda mill-Ministeru. Dak li suppost kellu jkun Ċentru ta’ Eċċellenza ghar-Rizorsi mehtiega, ahna nħossu li huwa post fejn it-tama għall-futur ta’ wliedna tmut. Din hija r-realtà tagħna. Mingħajr l-appoġġ tagħkom, it-tmexxija l-ġdida ma tistax tagħmel bidla sinifikanti.
Ergajna bqajna minghajr Kunsill ta' l-iskola - in parti kbira ghax ir-rwol ta' Prezident jiddeciedhu il Ministeru. U ghadna bla-President sal-llum u allura, mighajr kunsill. Dan ħalla lill-istudenti (hafna minnhom ma jitkellmux) letteralment bla vuċi biex taqbez ghalihom – sitwazzjoni inaccettabbli.
Aħna nitolbu URĠENTEMENT:
TO
Hon. Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport and Youth
Mr Matthew Vella, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth
Hon. Ms Julia Farrugia , Minister for Inclusion
Mr Mark Musu, Permanent Secretary for Social Policy and Children’s rights
Mr Anthony Gatt, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Inclusion
Hon. Justin Schembri, Shadow Minister for Education
Hon.Graziella Galea, Shadow Minister for Inclusion and NGOs
All Members of Parliament.
We applaud the new leadership team for the sterling work they are doing to improve things for our children, however they rely on the support and financial backing of the Minstry for Education to effect meaningful change.
We, undersigned parents, guardians, professionals and concerned citizens, call on the Ministry for Education, the Ministry for Inclusion, and Members of Parliament to demand urgent action and clear communication regarding the following critical issues.
- ) SCHOOL-LEAVER CONFUSION Acceptance to Dun Manwel Attard Education Resource Centre (Wardija) is now down to the decision of a BOARD . To date parents have been kept completely in the dark about the process. No explanation of criteria and no viable alternative to a Wardija has been proposed. This ongoing lack of communication is creating severe anxiety among parents who already carry a heavy emotional, financial and logistical burden.
- A RESOURCE CENTRE WITHOUT RESOURCES! Despite several parent complaints regarding inadequate resources over the years, our pleas have either gone unacknowledged or challenged by the Ministry. For years, what should have been a Centre of Excellence re accessing resources has been a place where parents feel all hope for their children's future comes to die. This is our reality and without your backing the new leadership cannot make meaningful change.
- No one-to-one support as we had in mainstream although their educational statement still mandates it.
- Speech therapy is practically not existent
- Occupational therapy is scarce.
- No on-site behavioural therapist
- Therapeutic opportunities like a functioning sensory room, swimming, music therapy, , communcation through signing, and hippotherapy are irregular or non-existent.
- Educational tools previously used in mainstream schools have been removed without warning and the licences withdrawn with no explanation, only to be reinstated once issue was escalated to Parliament.
- Lack of investment in focused and ongoing professional training which would enable tutors to confidently use a variety of resources available to them, to complement the unique needs and strengths of each student.
- A voiceless system, as the school council has been inactive for two years, largely due to lack of ministerial appointment of a President. This has left non-verbal youths without a voice to speak on their behalf and is unacceptable.
We urgently demand:
- A written update from the Ministry of Education on outlining options for school-leaving students with intellectual disabilities;
- Confirmation of placements at Wardija or equivalent facilities for school-leaving students with one-to-one statements;
- A clear, sustainable post-16 transition plan, co-designed with families and professionals;
- Immediate reform of the school council system so children in Resource Centres are never left without a Voice again.
- Direct investment in physical human resources, especially on-site behavioural therapists and speech & communication specialists;
- Ongoing professional training for tutors using tools proven to help individual students flourish.
Dikjarazzjoni tal-Petizzjoni:
Bħala omm ta’ żagħżugħ li dalwaqt se jħalli l-Guardian Angel Resource Centre, u fid-dawl tan-nuqqas ta’ Kunsill tal-Iskola li jirrappreżenta lill-istudenti tagħna, inħoss id-dmir li nitkellem – kemm f’isem ibni kif ukoll f’isem il-ġenituri li ffirmaw hawn taħt. Dan huwa grupp ta’ studenti partikolarment vulnerabbli li l-futur tagħhom mhux qed jingħata l-attenzjoni u l-ippjanar urġenti li jistħoqqilhom. Din il-petizzjoni nkitbet bil-bżonnijiet tagħhom f’moħħna, u nittamaw li sservi wkoll ta’ appoġġ għall-ġenituri l-oħra li qed jaffaċċjaw problemi simili.
Filwaqt li nirringrazzjaw il-Leadership gdid ta' Guardian Angel Resource Centre tal-hidma u l-entużjażmu taghhom, kif ukoll l-edukaturi kollha, dan it-tim jiddependi fuq l-appogg u l-finanzi li jircievu mid-dipartiment tal-Edukazzjoni, biex isiru bidliet sinifikanti.
Aħna, il-ġenituri, kustodji, professjonisti u ċittadini mħassba li ffirmajna hawn taħt, nappellaw lill-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, lill-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni u lill-Membri Parlamentari biex jiehdu azzjoni URĠENTI u jtuna komunikazzjoni ċara dwar dawn il-kwistjonijiet kritiċi:
KONFUŻJONI DWAR X'HA JSIR MIT-TFAL TAGHNA LA JITILQU MILL- G.A.
Il-ħatra għall-Education Resource Centre Dun Manwel Attard (Wardija) issa hija f’idejn bord. S’issa, il-ġenituri ghadhom fl-ghama dwar il-proċess – l-ebda spjegazzjoni tal-kriterji u l-ebda alternattiva vijabbli għal Wardija ma ġiet proposta. Dan in-nuqqas persistenti ta’ komunikazzjoni qed joħloq ansjetà kbira fost il-ġenituri, li diġà qed iġorru piż emozzjonali, finanzjarju u loġistiku kbir.
ĊENTRU MINGĦAJR RIŻORSI
Minkejja l-ilmenti ta’ diversi ġenituri dwar nuqqas ta’ riżorsi matul is-snin, it-talbiet tagħna jew ġew injorati jew miċħuda mill-Ministeru. Dak li suppost kellu jkun Ċentru ta’ Eċċellenza ghar-Rizorsi mehtiega, ahna nħossu li huwa post fejn it-tama għall-futur ta’ wliedna tmut. Din hija r-realtà tagħna. Mingħajr l-appoġġ tagħkom, it-tmexxija l-ġdida ma tistax tagħmel bidla sinifikanti.
- One-to-one support jieqaf malli tidhol Resource Centre minkejja li t-tfal kollha ghandhom 1-to-1 statement. .
- Speech/Communication Therapy kważi ineżistenti, tant hu hekk li hawn tfal li m'ghadhomx jikkomunikaw kif kienu qabel
- Occupational Therapy hija skarsa ħafna.
- Behavioural Therapist fuq il-post ma hemmx li hija haga essenzjali gewwa Ċentru bħal dan.
- Opportunitajiet terapewtiċi bħal sensory room, swimming, music therapy, zfini, pet therapy, u hippotherapy huma irregolari jew ineżistenti.
- Hemm għodod edukattivi użati qabel fil-mainstream anke tneħħew f'salt u l-liċenzji tagħhom rtirati bla spjegazzjoni – biss irritornati wara pressjoni Parlamentari.
- Nuqqas ta’ investiment f’tagħlim professjonali kontinwu sabiex l-edukaturi jkunu kunfidenti fl-użu ta’ riżorsi varjati skont il-bżonnijiet u s-saħħiet uniċi ta’ kull student.
Ergajna bqajna minghajr Kunsill ta' l-iskola - in parti kbira ghax ir-rwol ta' Prezident jiddeciedhu il Ministeru. U ghadna bla-President sal-llum u allura, mighajr kunsill. Dan ħalla lill-istudenti (hafna minnhom ma jitkellmux) letteralment bla vuċi biex taqbez ghalihom – sitwazzjoni inaccettabbli.
Aħna nitolbu URĠENTEMENT:
- Aġġornament bil-miktub mill-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni li jiddeskrivi l-għażliet disponibbli għal studenti b’diżabilità intellettwali li se jħallu l-iskola;
- Konferma ta’ postijiet ġewwa Wardija jew faċilitajiet ekwivalenti għal studenti b’dikjarazzjoni għal appoġġ wieħed għal wieħed;
- Pjan ċar, sostenibbli u realistiku għat-tranżizzjoni post-16, maħluq flimkien mal-familji u l-professjonisti;
- Riforma immedjata fis-sistema tal-Kunsill tal-Iskola sabiex tfal f’Resource Centres qatt ma jibqgħu mingħajr vuċi;
- Investiment dirett f’riżorsi umani fuq il-post, speċjalment terapisti tal-imġiba u terapisti tat-taħdit u komunikazzjoni;
- Taħriġ professjonali kontinwu għall-edukaturi dedikati taghna, b’għodod ippruvati li jgħinu lill-istudenti individwali jiffjorixxu.
Posted
(Updated )
Report this as inappropriate
There was an error when submitting your files and/or report.