Educator wants review of gov't welfare programmes to prevent discrimination

 

Dr. Michele Meredith, head of the Department for Special Education at the Mico University College, says the Ministry of Education should conduct a review of its programmes to prevent discrimination.

 

Dr. Meredith says students on a government welfare programme have been complaining about unfair treatment in the distribution of meals.

 

She explains that students are being served different types of food from their peers. 

 

"Those who are on a particular government support programme - I will not say the name here - the lunches that they get in schools are of a different quality than others...and that there is discrimination. And whether it is that those who propagate that know, it is seen by the students because it's the children who told me, not adults. The children said, 'Our lunch is different. Some people get fried chicken and curried chicken, and we get mackerel and white rice. No vegetatives.'" 

 

Dr. Meredith said the Ministry of Education needs to ensure its policies promote equitable rights-based opportunities for students. 

 

"Equity is getting what you need so that you can do what you need to do," she explained, as she called for "quality distribution of resources, financial allocation, and all of those things that go into the provision of relevant, equitable, educational programmes and opportunities for those who need more".

 

The university educator was speaking at the recently held 12th Annual Special Education Conference and Workshops at the Church Teachers' College in Mandeville, Manchester.