The Down Syndrome Association has positively noted the letter written by the Movement in Favour of Rights for Persons with Disability regarding the right to adult education for persons with intellectual disability. The Down Syndrome Association fully agrees and supports the contents of the letter and urges the Educational Authorities to rectify this injustice as soon as possible.

Moreover, the Association has just been informed by some of its members that as from this year, their children are being denied entrance to the special schools after they finish fifth form (Form 5). Up to last year our members could opt to send their children to special schools after they finish Form 5 (in regular schools) and remain there until they reach adult status and leave the specific school. They could then move on to the Adult Training Centres (ATCs). Our members are now facing the bitter situation of having to keep their sons/daughters who have Down’ syndrome at home – either because their children will not be the lucky ones to be chosen to benefit from the one scholastic year programme offered by the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) or because they have already finished this programme.

The Down’s Syndrome Association is very concerned about this new situation our teenagers are being forced to go through. Is it a wise and just decision to deny our adults who have Down’s syndrome the right to continue their education until “full development of the whole personality including the ability to work” (quoted from the Education Act) when the Ministry of Education rightly and justly spends a substantial sum of money of public taxes on our children to give them a good quality education at primary and secondary level?

“It is the duty of the State –

to promote education and instruction;

to ensure the existence of a system of schools and institutions accessible to all Maltese citizens catering for the full development of the whole personality including the ability of every person to work; and

to provide for such schools and institutions where these do not exist.”

(quoted from the Education Act).

Faced with the present unhappy situation, the Down’s Syndrome Association urges the Minister to act now and implement the above – “to provide for such schools and institutions where these do not exist”. Due to their disability our children need more time to develop their whole personality.

Pio Fenech

PRO

Down’s Sydrome

Association Malta