AD welcomes the latest report released by the Commissioner for Education in the Office of the Ombudsman on MATSEC Access Arrangements for Special Needs Candidates with Reference to candidates suffering from ADHD, Autism or Dyslexia Conditions.
AD spokesperson Anna Azzopardi said that AD appreciates that through the publication of this report, the relevant stakeholders were consulted. “AD believes that in matters of access and education, everyone should be consulted including parents and youths. Youths should be given as much accessibility and should be empowered to succeed in their exams. They should be tested and assessed on their knowledge, and their ability to express their knowledge might be hindered by the way the examination process is designed. Thus examinations and assessments should be designed in a way which ensures the fruitfulness of the learning process, and which does not turn the learning process into a nightmare.”
Azzopardi insisted that disabilities are caused or exacerbated by socially imposed barriers. “The exam and assessment process should encourage learning, and not be a barrier. It is unacceptable that young people are unable to reach their full potential later on in life merely because the assessment methods are subject to overly bureaucratic and archaic systems. It has also been noted from the report that the systems which allow pupils access and support, such as psychological evaluation and statementing systems, are difficult to access, both for financial and logistical reasons. It is unacceptable that the future of young people is put at risk for such reasons.”
The provision of support and access should be an efficient one which starts from the first day of compulsory education. It should be easily accessible to everyone in an equitable manner, and finances should not be a further barrier. Moreover, the MATSEC board should be ready and open to embrace new technologies as part of a changing world. Young people have the right to choose and perform to the highest of their potential in life. For this to be done, they need to be given an equitable and efficient start.
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AD tilqa’ b’ħeġġa l-aħħar rapport maħruġ mil-kummissarju għall-edukazzjoni fl-Uffiċċju tal-Ombudsman.
AD tilqa’ b’ħeġġa l-aħħar rapport maħruġ mil-kummissarju għall-edukazzjoni fl-Uffiċċju tal-Ombudsman dwar l-Arranġamenti ta’ ACCESS għall-Kandidati bi bżonnijiet speċjali tal-MATSEC b’referenza għall-kandidati li jbatu mill-kundizzjonijiet tal-ADHD, Awtiżmu jew Dyslexia.
Kelliema għal Alternattiva Demokratika, Anna Azzopardi qalet li AD tapprezza li l-istakeholders milquta ġew konsultati. “Huwa mportanti li fejn jidħlu kwistjonijiet ta’ aċċess fl-Edukazzjoni kulħadd, inkluż ġenituri u żgħażagħ jiġu konsultati. Iż-żgħażagħ għandhom jingħataw l-aċċess kolllju li possibli u l opportunita li jilħqu il-potenzjal sħiħ tagħhom biex jirnexxu fl-eżamijiet u fl-assessjar. Għandhom jiġu ttestjati fuq dak li jafu, u l-ħila li jesprimu dan l-għarfien m’għandiex tiġi mxekkla mil-mod kif inhu ddisinjat l-eżami. L-eżamijiet u l-assessjar għandu jkun disinjat b’tali mod li jassigura li l-proċess tat-tagħlim qed ikun ta’ success, u b’tali mod li il-proċess tat-tagħlim ma jsirx esperjenza kerha.”
Azzopardi kompliet:”Id-diżabilitajiet huma kkawżati minn ostakli kkawżati mis-soċjetà. Għaldaqstant, l-eżami u l-assessjar għandhom jinkoraġixxu t-tagħlim, mhux ikunu ta’ ostaklu. AD tħoss illi hija inaċċettabli li żgħażagħ ma jkunu kapaċi jilħqu il-potenzjal tagħhom matul ħajjithom sempliċement għaliex il-metodi tal-assessjar huma wisq burokratiċi u arkajċi. Mir-rapport ġie nnuttat li is-sistemi li jipprovdu servizzi ta’ sapport u aċċess, bħal servizzi ta’ Evalwazzjoni Psikoloġika u statementing, huma diffiċli biex jintlaħqu minn kulħadd. Dan kemm għal raġunijiet loġistiċi kif ukoll finanzjarji. Mhix aċċettabli l-futur taż-żgħazagħ jiġi kompromess għal dawn ir-raġunijiet.”
AD tisħaq li l-proviżjoni ta’ sapport u aċċess għandha tkun effiċjenti u għandha tingħata mill-ewwel ġurnata tal-edukazzjoni obbligatorja. Għandha tkun aċċessibli għal kulħadd b’mod ekwu, u l-finanzi m’għandhomx ikunu ta’ ostaklu. Apparti min hekk, il-bord tal- MATSEC għandu jkun miftuħ għal teknoloġiji ġodda f’dinja li qed tinbidel. Iż-żgħażagħ għandhom id-dritt li jagħżlu u jwettqu xogħlhom bl-aqwa potenzjal tagħhom. Biex dan isir, jeħtieġ li jingħataw bidu ekwu u effiċjenti f’ħajjithom.
