The Movement in Favour of Rights for Persons with Disability wishes to bring to the attention of all the authorities concerned the present situation of the students with intellectual disabilities after they finish Form 5.

Due to their disability, although these students are 16/17 years old their mental age is of about 12/13 years old or in some cases even less. They definitely need more years of education, training and development.

Unfortunately, the educational years of the majority of the students with intellectual disability attending our regular schools are ending after they finish their fifth form (Form 5). They are leaving our schools not yet prepared for their adult life.

A few chosen ones are being given the opportunity to benefit from another educational year through the ‘Pathway to Independent Living Course’, offered to them by the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). When this one-year course comes to an end, so does the education for these students with intellectual disability.

The movement has been insisting for quite some time with the authorities concerned that this situation is unacceptable. Students with intellectual disability have a right to be educated without anyone imposing on them a time frame. The authorities concerned are committing a very big mistake when, although the movement has been voicing its concern on this issue, such situation still persists.

It is a fact that the primary and secondary scholastic years of the students with intellectual disability is costing the state a substantial sum of money derived from public taxes. But it is a pity that all the energy and funds spent to give good quality education to our students with intellectual disability stops abruptly.

We urge the Educational Authorities to take immediate action so that this situation is remedied. Our children have a right for adult education – a right as equal as the right their ‘normal’ peers have. We hope that this plea does not, once again, fall on deaf ears.

Ms. G. Zerafa

Ms. M. Mugliette

Ms. A.M. Galea Naudi

Ms. P. Portelli

MFRPD