About this role
The Ministry of Education established a Special Education Needs Department (SEN) in 2017 and appointed an Assistant Chief Education Officer in 2022 to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate initiatives to support an inclusion policy while providing targeted support for students with special education needs. Teachers refer students with parental consent for further testing and treatment, and the SEN department provides support and training. Special schools and SEN hubs are sparsely available to students and parents in cases of severe disability. In some locations across Guyana, there are higher concentrations of learners with special education needs and there is also a growing number of cases with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, there is a shortage of locally qualified personnel to fill the gaps and ensure equitable access. As such, VSSPs can provide technical assistance to strengthen access to support and training services. Special Needs Education Officers are located at each regional education department to bolster teachers’ professional development, diagnostic screening, assessments, interventions, and treatment while sensitizing parents on the technical support children may need. The department is requesting Virtual Service Pilot Participants to strengthen the capacity of parents, teachers, and education officers on how to support learners with speech delays as well as those who are non-verbal. The VSPP will work with the national and regional special education needs team to facilitate speech therapy for a diverse group as there are few qualified people to effectively support a growing population. The essential roles include assessment, training design and implementation, rehabilitation, and parent/caregiver education. The VSPPs will also collaborate with other agencies to design individual education plans and other resources. The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.