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

Although these students are 16/17 years old their mental age is that of 12/13-year-olds, and in some cases even less. They definitely need more years of education, training and development.

Unfortunately, the education of the majority of students with intellectual disability attending regular schools ends after they finish fifth form (Form 5). They are leaving school unprepared for adult life. A few chosen ones are given the opportunity to benefit from another educational year through the ‘Pathway to Independent Living Course’ offered by the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). When this one-year course comes to an end, so does the education of 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 a time frame on them. Although the Movement has been voicing its concerns on this issue, the authorities have still not rectified this very sizeable mistake because the situation persists.

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

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

G. Zerafa, M. Mugliette,

A.M. Galea Naudi, P. Portelli