The National Council deliberated on the recommendations suggested in the Review Report on the State of Persons with Disabilities today. During the discussion, members recommended providing decision-making authority and higher salaries for Special Education Needs or SEN teachers. They also recommended doing away with or lowering Personal Income Taxes for persons with disabilities, and the need to certify persons with disabilities among others.
During the session, members reviewed the eight recommendations prepared by the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee on the state of persons with disabilities.
Some of the members proposed granting decision-making authority and higher salaries for SEN teachers to improve special needs education and attract more teachers to take up SEN classes.
“If SEN teachers, especially the SEN coordinators are given decision-making authority and independence, they can play an important role in the development of SEN in schools by playing the role of representatives of SEN,” said Tshering Tshomo, MP, Zhemgang.
“Since the work of regular and SEN teachers are different, SEN teachers should be given higher salaries. If not they should be given special education allowance,” said Pema Tashi, MP, Sarpang.
In response, the committee members stated that they did not include this in their recommendations because they received information from relevant authorities indicating that schools in Bhutan will be moving towards adopting SEN programmes in the future.
“Since all schools in Bhutan will adopt SEN programmes in the future, we decided to keep increasing the salaries of the SEN teachers out of the recommendations. However, if we have to increase the salaries, the committee completely supports it and we will discuss it in the committee meeting,” said Phub Dorji, Committee Member of the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee.
When questioned about the necessity of disability certificates, committee members explained that these certificates would help recognise individuals with disabilities, facilitating easier access to essential services.
“With the certificate, a person with a disability can get services faster than it takes for the general people. It gives people more accessibility. The certificate will help persons with disabilities gain easier access to services from banks, hospitals or offices,” said Tshering, Dy. Chairperson of the committee.
The deputy chairperson of the National Council proposed tax incentives for private organisations employing persons with disabilities or those caring for persons with disabilities. He also suggested reducing or eliminating taxes for employed individuals with disabilities to provide further support.
“Some persons with disabilities fulfil their duties to pay tax as well based on how much they earn. So, I think it would help them live a better life if they were excused from paying taxes,” said Dago Tsheringla, Dy. Chairperson of National Council.
The National Council deliberated on training caregivers domestically instead of hiring foreign workers, the necessity of a dedicated budget for SEN, and the potential consolidation or removal of certain recommendations.
The chairperson urged the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee to consider these suggestions in their upcoming meeting.
Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Kipchu
