Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
The long awaited special needs school, to be housed in Providenciales is still not open, but Rachel Taylor, MInister of Education says work is progressing, albeit behind schedule.
“The tender closed on January 31st for the ITT Framework that will provide the successful bidder the opportunity to properly scope and cost the work to be done,” Taylor revealed on February 27th during a press conference.
No concrete date was shared for project completion but Taylor detailed what the school would offer when it was eventually finished
“Once this state of the art and modern Special Education Needs Centre is opened, we will be well positioned to lead and transform the provision of special education services in the TCI. The vision for the building, once refurbishment is completed, will provide access to 27 specially designed and fit for purpose rooms,” the minister said.
Housed on the ground floor will be: A Music Room; Sickbay; a Specialized room to support students with Developmental Delays; Three specialized classrooms to support students with Autism; Two specialized classrooms to support students with ADHD; Two Regular Classrooms; and a Resource room.
Then on the first floor will be an additional 12 rooms inclusive of: An ELS Room; a sensory room; two rooms for Speech & Language therapy; two rooms for occupational therapy; one room to support our students with severe behavioural delays; one room to support our students with Down Syndrome; two regular classrooms; a canteen; and administration section which will house a reception area, two offices, staff lounge, conference rooms and restrooms.
Taylor maintained that the highly specialized school would remove the need for families to leave the TCI to establish themselves in other countries to access services that are not provided at home.
