To help children integrate and not be left behind.

ENSURING FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION

Ms. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, Head of the Primary Education Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, stated that Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most populous cities in the country, with a higher rate of people with disabilities studying and living there compared to other areas. The number of children in inclusive education at primary schools is currently 5,071, distributed across 467 educational institutions. Of these, 224 are autistic children of school age.

A "shadow teacher" with students during activities at a school in Ho Chi Minh City.

Along with the development of education and training comes the assurance of equity in education so that no one is left behind, especially students with disabilities. According to Ms. Thuy, currently, some preschools and primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City are collaborating with centers supporting inclusive education to enhance support for students.

Shadow teachers from these centers are facilitated by schools in Ho Chi Minh City to participate in classes, learn alongside students, and provide individual intervention sessions in inclusive classrooms. However, these cases are not numerous, and implementation relies on the consensus of parents and teachers in charge of inclusive classrooms.

Mr. Ta Minh Duc, Director of the SWAN program supporting special needs students at Albert Einstein Primary, Secondary, and High School - AES (Ho Chi Minh City), stated that with the philosophy of education for all and the belief that each child possesses a unique talent, what society needs is to create favorable conditions for children to unlock and maximize their potential, becoming the best version of themselves. The role of "shadow teachers" in supporting children's integration is one example.

According to Mr. Ta Minh Duc, having "shadow teachers" in the classroom with children has many positive impacts on children's integration. Teachers can monitor and accurately understand children's learning abilities in each subject, thereby providing special teaching methods to support children, helping them understand lessons better, and adjusting learning goals to suit their abilities. Teachers also help limit negative behaviors in the classroom, preventing them from affecting other students.

"Shadow Teacher" also helps connect children with their classmates, giving them more opportunities to play and learn together, helping them develop language and social skills. Children also receive intervention from the teacher during certain school hours, helping them develop more positively each day.

"Shadow Teacher always prioritizes the child's best interests when working with stakeholders, in addition to professional work such as intervention, skills training, and knowledge reinforcement," said Mr. Ta Minh Duc.

A "shadow teacher" is playing with a special child.

High demand, high salary, but high pressure.

Mr. Hoang Ha, Director of the Hanamiki Center for Counseling and Integration Support, said that there has been a great demand for "shadow teachers" to support children's integration in recent times. However, the number of teachers who meet the recruitment criteria for this position and are ready for the job is not large.

According to Mr. Hoang Ha, "shadow teachers" need to have graduated in psychology, special education, social work, or have a bachelor's degree in primary education but have completed professional courses in inclusive education, and also have experience in providing one-on-one support to inclusive children. In many schools, English proficiency is required to communicate with colleagues and administrators of international schools – if the students are attending these schools.

According to Mr. Hoang Ha, although the salary for each full-time "shadow teacher"/student can reach 15 million VND per month, recruitment is very difficult. Many teachers confide that their work is repetitive every day, revolving around one student, with pressure from many sides, very stressful, and they are unable to fully utilize their professional strengths that they have been trained in.

Mr. Ha said that parents are also very diverse. Some parents understand, support their children, and cooperate effectively with the "shadow teachers." Others think they are paying someone to do all the work that elementary school teachers and caregivers would normally do; they also hide information about their children's medical examinations and assessments…

Some parents have a negative mindset, believing that teachers and "shadow teachers" will bully their children. They don't trust anyone and sometimes act disrespectfully towards "shadow teachers" whenever something happens to their child.

Every child has the right to equal access to education.

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper, Ms. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, Head of the Primary Education Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that all children have the opportunity to access equal education and receive support to develop their full potential in a friendly and fair educational environment.

Over the past period, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has implemented many solutions such as developing and directing the implementation of policies to raise community awareness and understanding of autism; developing specialized training courses to train teachers with the goal of providing the best techniques and methods in working with autistic children…

The Department of Education and Training has issued and implemented legal documents on education, especially the promulgation of school regulations, including regulations related to the assessment of inclusive education students…

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-thay-co-giao-shadow-de-tre-hoa-nhap-khong-o-lai-phia-sau-185240102231908079.htm