Special needs kids let down by European schools

Date: 26/06/03

THE European schools for children of people working in EU institutions have been accused of failing to cater for pupils with special needs.

They offer an "elitist curriculum" which gives children with learning difficulties little or no chance of success, says Europe's Children - Our Concern (ECOC).

The organization urges action to tackle the issue as part of the 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD).

EYPD is a European Commission initiative designed to promote rights of disabled people. Kay Labate, the group's president, says the situation at European schools is a key concern.

"The schools are fantastic for able-bodied, university-bound students, but are something of a nightmare for special needs children," said Labate.

There are 12 such schools in the EU, six of them in Brussels and Germany, with the others in Luxembourg, Italy, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands.

They provide places for children, aged four to 18, of parents working in the EU institutions, embassies, NATO and EU representation offices.

But ECOC says that, while an estimated 10% of children suffer from learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and autism, the European schools do not care for such youngsters.

"It is virtually impossible for special needs children to get on in these schools.

"The curriculum simply does not cater for them. Many of these kids are brilliant academically but are being deprived of a chance of getting on," Labate said.

"It is a real problem and has reached the stage where it is even causing families to split up."

NGO group Europe's Children Our Concern has criticised the EU for failing to provide facilities for children with special needs in their 12 European schools.

http://www.ecoc.be/ http://www.ecoc.be/

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