Baie Lazare School Hosts Symposium on Special Needs Under ‘Every Learner Matters’ Theme

VICTORIA, Seychelles — A symposium on Special Needs, under the theme ‘Every Learner Matters – Transforming Baie Lazare School into a More Inclusive Institution’, was held yesterday at the Baie Lazare school. The main objective of the event was to raise awareness among teachers, parents and community members about the needs of learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at the Baie Lazare primary school. The symposium was attended by First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, the Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin, the chief executive of the National Council for Children (NCC), Yasmin Umarji, and other senior representatives of the Ministry of Education.

The event started with headteacher Agnelle Monthy presenting the current situation at the school, followed by a panel discussion with representatives of the Ministry of Education, psychologists, teachers and parents. Participants then broke into thematic group discussions focusing on key areas such as resources, infrastructure, instructional practices, designing appropriate assessments, adapting the curriculum, and strengthening both parental and external support. Ms Monthy highlighted some of the major challenges her school is facing to cater to a growing number of students with diverse needs. ‘This initiative is designed to ensure that all children, regardless of their abilities, receive the support they need to succeed. While the school has been pursuing this vision for the past five years, new challenges have emerged. Social issues, for instance, can sometimes affect our school and create barriers to performance,’ she explained.

Baie Lazare school currently has 360 students, of whom 33 have been identified as having special educational needs. The symposium forms part of the school’s broader efforts to embed inclusive practices and ensure that every learner has access to quality education tailored to their needs.