To address the challenges schools face with lack of trained teachers who have a formal qualification and relevant training in supporting and responding to the needs of the children with a disability, the Paro College of Education officially launched two years Master of Education (MEd) (Inclusive Education) yesterday.
Today there are 18 schools that support Special Education Need (SEN) Schools and two special schools catering to 797 children with SEN. It is learned that with the government and International agencies and Local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) sensitizing on SEN programme to ensure every child an equal opportunity to learn saw an ever-increasing number of enrolment of children with SEN in mainstream schools. Therefore the introduction of MEd (Inclusive Education) programme is expected to better equip teachers with the necessary skills and qualifications to cater to the needs of the children with SEN.
“In 2015 Paro College of Education in line with its strategic plans and with support from Ministry of Education and UNICEF Bhutan, carried out a Nation-wide situational study to gauge the demand and need for professional education courses in Inclusive Education. Based on the findings from these studies and the direction from the stakeholders including the feedback from the office of Vice-chancellor, the college embarked on developing the programme,” said Karma Jigyel, the Program leader for MEd (Inclusive Education) at Paro College of Education.
Meanwhile, the college has also launched an 18-month Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Dzongkha on the same day.
Earlier we had only 8 modules and now it is increased to 12, hence they have to train these entire modules. The most important is going with the change in classrooms and current scenario therefore now the trainees will get a 6-month semester to learn how to teach, plan lessons and manage a classroom in schools. This was not there in Post Graduate Certificate Education earlier,” said Tandin Peljor, the Program Leader for PGDE (Dzongkha).
Today, a cohort of 21 students is enrolled with the MEd (Inclusive Education) and 69 students are enrolled for the 18-month PGDE (Dzongkha) programme.
Namgay Wangchuk
