The Special Education Needs Authority (SENA) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd, launched, this morning, a training programme for the capacity building of Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers, at Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd in Pamplemousses.

The Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, the SEN Patron and Spouse of the Prime Minister, Mrs Kobita Jugnauth, the Director of SENA, Mr Deewakarsingh Authelsingh, the Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnics Mauritius, Mr Yamal Matabudul, the Commissioner of the HEC, Professor Romeela Mohee, and other eminent personalities were also present on the occasion.

The Signature of a Memorandum of Agreement between Polytechnics Mauritius and the SENA was also held on the same occasion.

In his address, Mr Authelsingh highlighted that today’s event is in connection to increasing access to lifelong learning opportunities for all SEN educators. “Today, we are registering all SEN educators so that they can benefit from scholarships from the Commonwealth of Learning through the HEC,” he said.

Furthermore, the SENA Director remarked that the recipients for this scholarship, which will start on 01 June 2023, have been chosen to be SEN educators as they go above and beyond in their service to students with Special Education Needs. On this note, he commended them in providing for the best education and supporting these learners.

Mr Authelsingh indicated that this forum is addressing lifelong learning and investing in the capacity building of SEN teachers. At the SENA, we are sustaining the work, in particular Continuous Professional Development (CPD), that started some years back in line of the reform in the education sector given that CPD is one of the pillars of our education system, he stated.

SENA, he underscored, believes in inclusion and equity, adding that inclusive education is at the heart of its concerns. “This objective underscores the centrality of non-discrimination to access to education for all as well as its potential to empower individuals and improve the welfare of all Mauritians,” Mr Authelsingh said.

Speaking to the SEN teachers, the Director emphasised that for SEN education to embrace the spectrum and reach the heights of the SENA ambition, more than policies are required. “You will need to act as mentors for children who are in need and the SENA is here to empower you to constantly build on your acquired skills and experience to become the right instructional leaders in the SEN sector,” he added.

With this scholarship, Mr Authelsingh observed that all SEN educators will have the opportunity to follow six online modules dispensed by various renowned Universities at their own pace and just like micro credentials, get exemptions at the University of Technology (UTM) to complete a certification in inclusive and Special Education Needs.

This, he underscored, is indeed a very good opportunity for all SEN teachers and, on this note, thanked the HEC, Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd, the UTM and other contributing stakeholders for having taken the initiative to work together with the SENA and find solutions in connection to access to education for all teachers in the SEN sector.