Hon members, I have been informed that the first question, asked by the hon J C Moloi-Moropa, has been withdrawn.
May I also advise Ministers that when it is Question Time they should be in Parliament on time to answer questions. Hon Minister, you have the floor. [Interjections.] [Applause.] Integrated schooling and its impact on children with special needs
297. Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) asked the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:
(1) Whether she is aware that the needs of some school-going children are not adequately met as they are unable to function in mainstream schools, while they are too high functioning for special needs schools;
(2) whether her department has been monitoring how effective the system of integrated schooling is and what impact it is having on children with special needs; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,
(3) whether she will look into this important aspect of education which has the potential to help or seriously disadvantage many children if not monitored carefully to ensure it accomplishes what it is meant to? NO900E
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Speaker and hon members, my department is aware that there are special problems that are faced by children with special needs. The department is working very closely with the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Social Development to address these concerns. Our department has done a special audit of special schools and has made recommendations to the relevant departments on how we can improve the situation of these facilities. The department is also working closely to ensure that the relevant teachers and personnel at these institutions are trained.
We are also working very hard to ensure that our policy of inclusive education is implemented at our schools. We are working closely with the Department of Social Development to ensure that the early childhood development programme of action ensures that ECD is accessible and includes children with disabilities at that young age.
We are also working closely with the Department of Higher Education, and Training, which has made an amount of R77 million available to ensure that young people with disabilities have access to FET colleges and to higher education. Thank you, hon Speaker.