Where does special needs education stand in private and int’l schools?

There’s still a gap in special needs education in our private + international schools: Out of 93 international schools in Egypt, only a handful have programs for special needs students and these programs have a slim acceptance rate. Parents have been lobbying for higher inclusion and enrolment rates for these programs, and schools are working to provide adequate services to cater to special needs education, according to sources Enterprise spoke with. Several schools are investing in specialized programs, hiring trained educators, and providing additional support services to meet the unique needs of special needs students.

IN CONTEXT- In 2018, legislative amendments to the Disabilities Act (pdf) barred public and private schools from rejecting admission to students with mild disabilities and enforced a minimum acceptance rate of 5% of applicants with disabilities.

Many schools are finding it difficult to accept “severe cases” of special needs, with some telling us they cap their acceptance rates to be able to accommodate these students.“In all of our schools we provide a Special Educational Needs (SEN) assessment, there we assess the applicant’s case and we end up taking 1-2 cases per grade group. The cases we take have learning disabilities mainly mild to Level 1 Advanced,” a source from Egypt Education Platform(EEP) told Enterprise.

Parents complain about a lack of tailored curricula and an expectation of dishing out extra for limited support: Families of special needs students often face additional expenses to cover costs for hiring integration teachers or arranging for additional tutoring sessions within the school, according to parents Enterprise spoke with. One parent we spoke with said that one school charged double the regular tuition fees for their child to attend the school, and said that the school did not provide “any special services whatsoever” in return for the additional costs. Other parents also indicated that schools often fail to adapt their curricula to the specific learning abilities of special needs students and lack in-school assistance or counseling service, which together hinder educational progress.

On the other side of the table, schools have limited space for maneuvering: The Education Ministry’s tight cap on how much international schools can raise their tuition fees each year has had a significant impact on schools’ ability to provide resources and services for special needs students, according to our sources.

There are accreditation limitations, too: Some institutions lack the necessary accreditation from the Education Ministry to be a full-fledged school with embedded special needs programs, but are able to provide vocational certification which is accredited by the Social Solidarity Ministry. “Although we provide help and development in learning, we believe that special needs students need to attend regular schools to bolster their social skills and be present in society,” Hope Academy Director Nagla Ahmed told us.

Outside of traditional schools: Hope Academy caters to individuals with special needs of various ages, ranging from 3 years old up to 30+. Hope focuses on developing the socio-emotional and academic skills necessary for these students to enroll in regular schools, Ahmed explained. The academy is designed to simplify curriculums to make learning more accessible for these students, and offers vocational certificates, providing special needs students with career-focused training and support, enabling them to pursue their aspirations.

But there are also several established international schools that have dedicated programs, buildings, and units for special needs students, such as the British Columbia Canadian International School(BCCIS), Dover International School, El Quds, and EEP schools. EEP opened two schools, Westview International Language School and Scholars International Language School, that have “competent” units specifically for special needs students, according to our EEP source. The units focus specifically on teaching and developing important motor, social, and emotional skills, designed to promote better integration of special needs students. Classrooms are equipped with visual aids and other supportive materials to facilitate their learning experience.

And some nudge parents towards shadow teachers: A handful of schools — including BCCIS, Dover, Al Quds and EEP schools — offer recommendations for shadow teachers who are carefully vetted by the school administration and provided to parents as a resource. These shadow teachers ensure that students with special needs receive personalized attention and guidance. “We’re not hired by the school but rather recommended by them to parents, and we get paired up with the children based on an observing assessment,” a shadow teacher who asked to remain anonymous told Enterprise.

Looking ahead: While progress has been made in recognizing the importance of special needs education in Egypt, there is still a long way to go. It is crucial for private international schools to prioritize and invest in providing the best possible education for special needs students. The Hope also plans to establish their academy as an official school or to open a university that provides special needs students a pathway similar to ones in regular universities.