A to Z
Guide
for
Inclusion
Inclusion in Malta
According to the ministry of Education, Inclusive Education is one of the main targets of Education in Malta. They say that the aim is to create environments for all students, responsive to the differing developmental capacities, needs, and potential of all students from kindergarten (including child care centres and private kindergartens) to tertiary and adult education.
The Ministry states the following objectives for inclusive education in Malta:
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To ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of the Inclusion policy and related actions so as to ensure equitable access to a relevant curriculum for students with Individual Educational Needs (IENs);
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To oversee the formulation, implementation and review of Individual Education Programmes for students with Individual Educational Needs;
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To ensure that students with Individual Educational Needs are encouraged to develop advocacy skills and where possible to begin to take responsibility of their own learning;
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To collaborating with parents/guardians of students with Individual Educational Needs
The following services are currently offered in schools:
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Ensuring the co-ordination of the provision of special examination arrangements for students with Individual Educational Needs;
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Adopting and working towards the implementation of the school development plan of the particular school they are giving service in;
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Accessing and regularly monitoring the records of students with Individual Educational Needs;
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Ensuring that Individual Transition Programmes (ITP) are implemented before transition from one school to another or from one sector to another and participating in the development of such programmes, including school-to-work ITPs where applicable;
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Co-ordinating all staff assigned to students with Individual Educational Needs;
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Liaising with feeder and receiver schools;
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Facilitating links between Colleges and Resource Centres through networking activities;
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Liaising with and providing technical advice to colleagues in schools and other professionals, including the College and school multi-disciplinary team, who are in contact with students with Individual Educational Needs;
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Co-ordinating professional development opportunities for colleagues and participating in CPDs;
Inclusion in schools is a much debated issue. Many have stressed the fact that inclusion is primarily an educational reform issue and not simply an issue of placement. Inclusion must start from the premise that all students have the right to follow mainstream education. Some countries, such as Italy, have made this part of their legislation and have changed their educational approach so as to offer more provisions within mainstream education.