PN calls for action on 'abandoned' Gozo ITS students with disabilities
The Institute of Tourism Studies 'failed to provide LSEs', the party said
The Nationalist Party has called for “concrete action” to help students with disabilities attending the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), who it described as “abandoned” due to a shortage of Learning Support Educators (LSEs).
In a statement, the PN said three ITS students of the Qala campus had been left without LSE since the start of term, depriving them of post-secondary education.
“At the start of the academic year, it appeared that ITS was prepared to cater for these students, yet to date it has failed to provide the necessary LSEs”, the party said.
“This has resulted in a situation where two students are unable to attend any lessons due to the lack of educational support, while another student is unable to attend classes held in the kitchen.”
The party described the situation as an “institutional shortcoming” and a “violation of the fundamental right to education”.
It called on authorities and ITS to remedy the situation, stressing that inclusive education was a “fundamental right”.
“The Partit Nazzjonalista demands concrete action now," it said. "Any delay or lack of action only deepens the marginalisation of children and young people who are already facing serious challenges”.
The statement was signed by Shadow Inclusion Minister Graziella Galea, Shadow Neurodiversity Minister Albert Buttigieg, Shadow Gozo Minister Chris Said and Shadow Tourism Minister Mario de Marco.
In a reaction, the ITS said it was committed to inclusive education and student support.
It said that over the past months, it had made every effort to secure the most suitable specialised professionals to provide the required support for the three students with disabilities. Two official calls for Learning Associates (LAs) were made but there were no successful candidates. There is currently a third call for LAs.
The ITS said it had carried out all the necessary educational and professional reports including educational psychological assessments, Occupational Therapy reports, and those related to health and safety in the workplace. It had also been working on an alternative learning programme for these students in order to provide them with the best possible post-secondary learning experience, in a safe, structured and adapted environment to their needs.