The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) has handed over a newly retrofitted inclusive classroom to the Salvation Army Arthur Wint Basic School in Lucea, Hanover.
Done in partnership with the Digicel Foundation, the facility forms part of the ECC’s Inclusive Legacy Project.
The classroom, which includes an adjoining sensory room, can accommodate some 20 students and is equipped with all the necessary resources and teaching materials to cater to the unique needs of the children.
During the handover ceremony held on September 18, Executive Director of the ECC, Dr. Karlene DeGrasse-Deslandes, lauded the contribution of Digicel Foundation, which created the infrastructure of the classroom and the sensory room, while the ECC provided the furniture and learning resources.
She said that the legacy classroom initiative is having a profound impact on the development of all students.
She noted that the project, which commenced in 2022, was created to advance early-childhood development through the establishment of inclusive learning environments, where students with special needs can learn in the same setting as their peers.
“To date, the ECC’s legacy classrooms have transformed the lives of children with special needs, providing them with the foundation to thrive, to dream and to succeed,” she said.
Dr. DeGrasse-Deslandes further posited that through the initiative, the ECC has demonstrated that when children with special needs are given the same opportunities as their peers, they can exceed expectations, redefining what success looks like.
“Our classrooms have become more than spaces for learning; they are environments of empowerment where diversity is celebrated and each child’s unique potential is unlocked,” she said.
“What we are witnessing is the legacy of inclusive education, children with special needs who are no longer sidelined but integrated, supported and encouraged to shine,” Dr. DeGrasse-Deslandes emphasised.
She further underscored that inclusive education is a powerful approach that enriches the learning environment for all students.
“By fostering an atmosphere of empathy, collaboration and diversity, we are teaching our children valuable lessons in understanding and acceptance from an early age,” she outlined.
For her part, Board Chair at the Digicel Foundation, Joy Clark, said the project represented the collaboration of like-minded persons who are committed to the future of the island’s children.
“This initiative is a testament to the Digicel Foundation’s mission of creating a world where no one gets left behind. We believe that every child, regardless of their abilities, deserves the best possible start, and that it is what today is about,” she said.
“This is our third inclusive classroom project with the ECC. Early-childhood education has always been and will always be close to our hearts,” Ms. Clark said.
Chairman of the school board, Major Jonathan Kellman, thanked both entities for choosing the school as a beneficiary of the project, noting that the initiative was another opportunity to reach out to those children who are at times not included.