So one might ask what special education is and why bother? Well Special Education programs are designed for those students who are mentally, physically, socially and or emotionally delayed. This aspect of “delay,” broadly categorized as a developmental delay, signifies an aspect of the child's overall development physical, cognitive, scholastic skills which place them behind their peers.
Due to these special requirements, students’ needs cannot be met within the traditional classroom environment. Thus, the Windsor School of Special Education, located in Greater Portmore, Linstead, May Pen and Spanish Town caters to students with these challenges.
The Ministry of Education reminds us that Every child can learn, every child must learn; and the team at the Portmore Municipal Council strongly endorse this statement hence, in 2012 the Portmore Municipal has undertaken the construction of a classroom as its Labour day Project at The Windsor School of Special Education, Greater Portmore and has recently officially open its doors.
On May 30, 2014, Portmore Municipal Council and Partners Transjamaica Highway, Columbus Communication, LIME, and WICHON Officially opened the doors of the classroom donated back in 2012. Acting Chief Education Officer for the Special Education Unit Dr. Hickswell Douglas at the Ministry Of Education brought Greetings and Message from Rev. the Honurable Ronald Thwaites Minister of Education.
Dr. Douglas encouraged partnership as we can achieve much from this venture as Special Education programs and services adapt content, teaching methodology and delivery instruction to meet the appropriate needs of each child. He further stated that our current social and economic challenges as a country highlight the need for more of this kind of effective and efficient partnership between and among state agencies and the NGO community.
It is widely acknowledged that inter-agency and NGO collaboration is critical for the achievement of general and special education goals. The Ministry has taken a number of steps in furtherance of the vision for special education. In the end Dr. Douglas reminded us that the Ministry and other government agencies, the NGO community, schools, families and the private sector, must actively pursue collaboration to establish meaningful partnerships in order to succeed.