China is looking to improve special education as more than 80,000 disabled children lack access to schooling.
The Ministry of Education released the figure in an evaluation report of the national mid- and long-term educational reform and development guidelines (2010-2020) as it works to help disabled people integrate into society.
Special education in China is far from enough. Nearly 600 counties with populations below 300,000 in remote and ethnic minority areas do not have any schools providing special education. Compounding the problem, the number of disabled students joining classes in regular schools is shrinking, preventing social integration.
EQUAL RIGHTS
In some parts of China, special education schools have been changed to regular schools by local educational departments, who say the number of disabled students is too small and schools for regular education are inadequate.
The report said a shift of attitude is required by some local governments who do not attach great importance to special education, considering it tantamount to philanthropy instead of valuing the inherent rights of disabled children.
Prof. Xiao Fei of Beijing Normal University said legislation should be accelerated in order to promote the development of special education.
The level of special education has become a reflection of social progress, human rights as well as social values such as equality and justice, Xiao said.
Cheng Kai, vice president of China Disabled Persons' Federation, said the development of special education in China lags far behind regular education.
All disabled people should receive high-quality education catered to their needs, which is an important part of social harmony, Cheng said.
During the next five years, special education should be extended to more disabled students, either going to special schools, regular schools or being taught by teachers at home, said Zheng Fuzhi, an official with the education ministry, adding that special education tasks will be allocated to each school.
INADEQUATE TEACHING FORCE
Most special education schools in China do not meet the national requirement one teacher to three students, said Yu Wen, principal of Special Education School in Beijing's Haidian District.
