The Ministry of Education has appointed a coordinating officer for special education and will launch a programme to focus on improving the delivery of education to visually impaired students.

Last month the ministry appointed Daphne Franklin to the position and as part of the strategic plan for Education 2003-2007, special resource units will be set up for children with special needs, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The Education Ministry will be embarking on the programme under the theme “Increasing access to quality education for the disabled”.

According to GINA the programme will also concentrate on training teachers in the resource unit and those who have to teach classes with blind students. Another focal point is the acquisition of relevant technology for the resource unit.

Recruitment and training of staff are areas of immediate concern for the ministry with regards to special education institutions, including the David Rose School for Handicapped Children, the Lion’s School for the Handicapped and the Linden Centre for the Handicapped, GINA said.