Doha: The world celebrates Down Syndrome Day annually on March 21 which was first adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2011, to raise awareness of the nature of Down's syndrome and highlight the achievements and support of these productive individuals in society.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education pays special attention to this category of students through providing them with a variety of services in 70 inclusion schools, as well as a group of five special needs schools (Al Hidaya Schools) and two kindergartens. These schools enrolled a total of 132 students with Down's syndrome. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education also provides multiple services to such students.
Roaa’ Center for Evaluation and Consultation is a member organisation of the Special Education and Gifted Students Department, and provides comprehensive assessment services for students with Down's syndrome in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health to determine the student’s performance level and, accordingly, the services that must be provided to them and the type of educational environment that is appropriate for him.
These schools provide educational programmes and services appropriate to their needs, which helps these students to integrate with their peers.
Inside these schools, there are a number of resource rooms equipped with different tools and assistive technologies prepared for students with Down's syndrome.
In addition to that, the school provide specialised cadres of special education teachers and specialists of support services who serve and enhance their academic abilities and independence, each according to their needs
Al Hidaya schools is a group of schools for students with special needs, where intensive sessions are provided to the students by specialised staff in various fields of special education to ensure that they are empowered enough for inclusion with others and facilitate the process of integrating them later in various fields. These schools have safe classrooms and stimulating to educate these students in accordance with their actual needs and abilities.
Students with Down's syndrome are offered a set of educational programs for vocational rehabilitation and discovery of practical capabilities and performance skills.
In addition, integration schools, specialised schools, and the Roaa’ Center provide a range of family support services, including family counselling related to students with Down's syndrome, and awareness brochures for their families, as well as workshops on how to deal with this category of students
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, represented by Special Education and Gifted Students Department in coordination with various organisations inside and outside the ministry, provides specialised technological devices and programmes for students with Down's syndrome that can be used collectively or individually in schools, to enable them and facilitate their learning process in accordance with their abilities.
Vocational and technical pathways have been developed to meet the needs of such students whose academic preparations for receiving knowledge and science do not live up to normal secondary school standards in the inclusion and specialised schools, where teachers prepare and design vocational training units. Students are assessed to determine their abilities, inclinations and preparations.
Down's syndrome is a genetic condition that affects children who have a deficiency in chromosome 21 division and have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the normal two copies. This causes delays in mental and physical development but has no effect on their daily tasks.
