IHC says more action is needed to adequately resource schools despite welcoming the Government’s announcement to reduce class sizes.
IHC Inclusive Education Lead Trish Grant says the investment to recruit 320 more teachers is just one step on the ladder to ensure disabled students will have equitable access and a fair go at school.
“We know this investment in teachers is an investment in student learning and wellbeing,” says Trish. “Too many students have missed out for too long, so we look forward to seeing what more the Government will do.
“We need to support more teachers through initial education and professional development to teach students with a range of needs, which will inevitably save the significant social and economic costs related to student underachievement and disengagement.”
“Much work has been achieved in the last five years, including work on an inclusive curriculum, review of teacher aides and the learning support system, and it’s a nice start.
Trish says New Zealand has a proud record in human rights and questions why disabled students continue to miss out.
“A charity approach to supporting disabled students at school is out of step with the Government’s commitment to Whaikaha and Enabling Good Lives.
“The Government is about to respond to United Nations’ recommendations – an urgent response that articulates a stronger commitment to a vision and a detailed plan for inclusive education would set the record straight.”
About IHC New Zealand
IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.
About IHC’s Stand and Action on Education
All students with a disability have a human right to attend their local school, feel welcome and included, have access to the curriculum and fair outcomes from a quality education.
For too long, disabled students have been disadvantaged by an education system that does not include them.
In 2008, after decades of work with the Ministry of Education to solve the problems, IHC lodged a complaint under the Human Rights Act 1993. Initially the case had to go through the Human Rights Commission and government lawyers applied to “strike-out” key aspects of the IHC case. We had a hearing in the Human Rights Review Tribunal in 2015.
After five years, at the end of 2020, the Human Rights Review Tribunal handed down its decision and dismissed the Crown’s “strike-out” arguments.
This means the discrimination experienced by students with disabilities in education can now be heard by human rights experts.
Early in 2021 the Director of the Office of Human Rights Proceedings agreed to provide legal representation to IHC. He thinks the way in which disabled students experience discrimination in their access to education is a serious matter of great public interest. The Director has said he wants to talk with government about what they could do to better protect disabled students from discrimination at school.
