From Mr S. Dimech

I am the father of a child with Down’s syndrome. At the moment there is nowhere our children can be sent after Form V to further their education except to a special adult centre the Gardian Angel or Wardija, where they can stay up to the age of 19.

This is not the kind of education our children should receive. In today’s modern life they must have an education where they can learn, have a job and grow to be independent. It is their right. We know there will always be those who need more assistance and support to get on in life. This is an eternal problem when one lumps all the disabled together. We have the (physically) disabled moving for greater access to tertiary education at university and yet we have MCAST discontinuing its only part-time course for (intellectually) disabled people. This is discrimination.

This year my daughter leaves Form V and I am in a dilemma as to where I am going to send her next year; her Down’s syndrome is that of a very mildly (intellectually) disabled person. It is a shame to lose what I have invested in for the past 12 years.

Psychological tests and reports periodically carried out on our children to establish their mental age, show they are still below the age of 16. So why do they not repeat Form V or attend some other form of extended secondary education? No such plan has ever been devised to modernise the educational system to cater for these (intellectually) disabled adults. What they have learned vanishes as soon as they finish compulsory education. We have created a system of inclusion in the mainstream, yet are pulling down everything that has been built, after compulsory education.

No one has the right to leave these so-called adults out of the educational system and the workplace. According to the EU, all citizens are entitled to the same rights, opportunities and treatment. As concerned parents we have to work together to send a clear message that we are ready to fight prejudice and inequality. After all, now we are EU as well as Maltese citizens.

We understand the EU has budget of e15 million for equal opportunities for people with disability in all EU countries. Why not diversify this into a system from which they would benefit – a modern environment that would guide them towards an independent life and eliminate a system that has existed for ages? Extend secondary education for a period of two years, training them to acquire the knowledge and skills that will lead to job coaching. This would help them contribute to the economy despite an (intellectual) disability, as they would not have to rely on a disability pension all their lives, which is a burden on the taxpayer.

Saviour Dimech

MOSTA