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Welcome
Recent advances in technology have introduced new
concepts and tools to our world. "Global village" and
"e-mail" are but two examples. These innovations have
changed, and will continue to change, many aspects of
our lives. Today's reality has made it essential for
organizations to have their own websites on the
internet. It's our belief that as technology gains more
grip on our lives, those with no place on the world-wide
web would be as if they do not exist at all.
We at the General Secretariat of Special Education,
Ministry of Education, realize the necessity of
utilizing modern means of communication and the
importance of starting from where others have left off.
Therefore, we are eager to be as close to you, dear
internet user, as your keyboard.
The General Secretariat of Special Education at the
Ministry of Education is proud of its services, and
honored to carry out this momentous task. However, we
would not have been able to accomplish this endeavor
without the generous support of our righteously-guided
government and the enlightened leadership of the
Minister of Education, His Excellency Dr Abdullah
Alobaid .
Certainly the quantity and quality of Special Education
programs and support services that have been achieved
recently have crossed the boundaries of the impossible.
The quantitative growth is indicated by the increase of
institutions and programs from 66 in 1996 to 2577 in the
year 2006. The qualitative progress, however, is
signified by:
a) The rise in the number of programs and not
institutions. During the period mentioned above,
programs increased from 12 to 1936, while the
institutions only increased from 54 to 70 due to
dividing multi-level ones into separate entities and not
the opening of new institutions. As a result, students
who are served in regular schools exceeded, in number,
those served in institutions. Today, over 88 % of
special education students are mainstreamed.
b) The utilization of various service delivery models,
such as self-contained classrooms, resource rooms,
consultation and itinerant teacher services in addition
to the already existing residential and day schools.
c) The inclusion of non-traditional disability
categories such as learning disabilities, low vision,
hard of hearing, physical and motor disabilities, autism
and multiple disabilities.
d) The geographic expansion of services. Students who
are in need of special education in rural areas and
small towns are afforded the opportunity to benefit from
specialized services.
e) The decrease of the enrollment in residential
schools. In spite of the demand for special education
services, due to the social awareness, and in spite of
the fact that residential schools are serving new types
of disabilities that were not served there before, the
total number of students in these institutions is
steadily declining.
f) Academic superiority of mainstreamed blind students
over their sighted peers in some schools, such as Muathe
bin Jabal Elementary School in Jazan, Arafat Secondary
School in Jiddah and Abi Auoub Al Ansari Secondary
School in Buraidah.
Dear Internet Surfer, discussing Special Education and
its services and aspirations needs longer time and more
explanation. It goes without saying that it is
educationally essential to know the aspects of special
education.
We would be grateful to correspond with you and answer
your questions.
Nassir Al Mosa,
Ph.D
Consultant of Education
Ministry of Education- Saudi Arabia
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