“The lack of information and proper guidance from the department is appalling. Not everyone is fortunate to know who to reach out to for help. The worst experience by far!”
These are the words of a distraught mother who did not have a good experience for six months – waiting for her child to get placed at a school as he has special education needs.
Despite the National Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) policy of 2014 and Provincial Gauteng Department of Education SIAS policy of 2023 which guides learner identification and support, there are still learners who spend months and even years out of school awaiting placement.
Nandi Khathi (30), a mother to 7-year-old Tshiamo Khathi, is one of the many parents who face this challenge. Her son, Tshiamo stayed months out of school while she was taken from pillar to post with no luck of placement.
“When other parents shared the joys of uniform purchases, fittings and anticipation for this academic year, I was in anguish seeing my son spending more time at home and not in school like other kids. Frustrated doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt,” she said.
According to Nandi, Tshiamo was fortunately identified as a learner with special education needs (LSEN) quite early in his academic journey. When he was in Grade 1, his teachers mentioned that he has learning difficulties but never arranged for him to get assessed at the school until she made arrangements to get him assessed by an educational psychologist following advice from an acquaintance. Seeing her son at home when he should be studying and pursuing his dreams was the driving force for her son to get admitted at a school.
“We have diligently followed all procedures outlined by the department, including consultations with a neurologist and an educational psychologist, yet somehow the delay was ongoing in securing a suitable school placement for my son. Instead of receiving clarity and assistance, we were met with further obstacles and misinformation,” Nandi explained.
Dr Hester Costa from the Gauteng Department of Education stated that there are policies that the department put in place to ensure efficiency as far as placement of learners with special needs is concerned.
“There are various factors that may delay support, including; lack of space in LSEN schools; schools not implementing SIAS as requested; parents expecting placement in a school of choice; parents refusing guidance, thinking that the learner (their child) will get better and parents being unaware of the support needed and the possible support that can be provided,” Dr Costa said.
Nandi stated that it is unacceptable that bureaucratic inefficiencies and internal problems in the department are causing undue delays that are directly impacting her son’s education and well-being.
“My son has already been out of school for far too long, and every day without proper education further hinders his learning capabilities and social development. It is distressing to witness the toll this delay is taking on him both academically and emotionally,” she said.
Fortunately for Nandi, help came after sharing her story with The Curriculum News and this was before the story of her anguish was published. Tshiamo has been placed at Actonville Training Centre LSEN school in Benoni, Gauteng.
“I received a call from Pribashnie Naidoo, a psychologist who confirmed the receipt of my documents and said there’s no need for any further assessment because I had already done the and submitted everything to them,” Nandi said enthusiastically.
Dr Costa further encouraged parents to support their learners and work hand-in-hand with the school and department for the benefit of the learner.
“Parents should actively consult the school in terms of learner support, take note of who they spoke to and what the decision was. Parents also need to cooperate by taking the learners for health assessments if required or any other check that is needed. They must follow up on decisions made and hold the school accountable on deliverables,” she said.
Thank you to the Curriculum news for assisting this parent, this shows that our department of education needs a push before things can be done, I hope you get to help other children with similar issues. Slowly but surely our country is becoming a better place with such platforms where parents can be assisted by journalists and publishers. Big ups Noluthando Twala and your team!!!