Following concerns by Pacific Island Forum leaders and regional Ministers of Education over the high numbers of school dropouts amongst students with disabilities, the BEdSIE was introduced by the University of the South Pacific in 2005 and has only seen a handful of graduates thus far.
Speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Directors of Education Meeting on Inclusive Education in Nadi, Joyce Heeraman of the USP School of Education said there was serious concern over the cancellation of the program if enrolment number remained low.
“We talk about inclusive education for those with disabilities and yet this (BEdSIE) carefully thought out program is not being subscribed to. I have been told that special education is not a subject that people want to undertake.”
