The SERC Report

In these modern times it is important for our curriculum to accommodate all students. This doesn’t just relate to students of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds , but also to children with special needs, learning difficulties and those who are members of the Traveller community.

With almost 123,515 people in our country with psychological and/or emotional disabilities our curriculum should be more adaptable and flexible for these students, sadly this is not the case. According to the Census report, the educational attainment amongst disabled persons was much lower than that of the general population at all levels with 13.7% of individuals aged 15-50 completing no higher than primary-level education in comparison to 4.2% of the general

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, special schools were established around the country to help meet the educational needs of children with moderate and general learning disabilities, however by the early 1990s there was a heightened awareness of the necessity to create a more equitable society demanded a shift away from the segregated model of provision to one of access to and inclusion in mainstream schools. In 1993, the SERC report was published. It favoured as much integration for these pupils into the mainstream classes where it was feasible and appropriate, with as little segregation as possible. It established seven guiding principles which state the entitlements of parents and pupils. The most important being all SEN students should be given an appropriate and adequate education, where they are provided with ordinary skills ( SERC,1993). In response to this report, more SNA’s and resource teachers were appointed in schools, the NCCA published Curriculum Guidelines for Children with General learning disabilities, some schools have

This can be seen in subjects like Geography and SPHE. In Geography, promoting the value of diversity is central. The awareness and respect of communities on a local, national and global platform is emphasised, with interdependence between different groups being highlighted (NCCA,1999).In SPHE diversity and equality are two recurring themes (NCCA,1999). In this subject, children learn to respect and appreciate cultural diversity, promote tolerance and challenge racism in their lives now and in the