The development and provision of educational services for children with intellectual disabilities in Egypt

Abstract

this paper aims to provide an overview of the development and provision of educational services for children with intellectual disabilities in Egypt. Intellectual disability is a significant sub-average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behaviour and manifested during the developmental period. The education of children with intellectual disabilities is a right endowed and authorised by the Egyptian government. The Ministry of Education in Egypt is keen to provide those children who have intellectual disabilities, along with other children with special needs, with an appropriate education that addresses their needs and allows them to live in society using their full potential, as typically developing children. Observations and interviews were carried out to collect further information about the educational services the children with intellectual disabilities receive in Egypt. The findings of this study indicated that, despite the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Education, to provide advanced and new services for children with intellectual disabilities, the provision may still need improvements. A series of recommendations was suggested to improve the services that children with intellectual disabilities receive in Egypt. KEYWORDS:Intellectual Disability; Special Education; Inclusion.RESUMO: este artigo visa fornecer uma visão geral do desenvolvimento e prestação de serviços educacionais para crianças com deficiência intelectual no Egito. Deficiência intelectual é um prejuízo significante do funcionamento intelectual, concomitantemente a déficits no comportamento adaptativo, e que se manifesta durante o período de desenvolvimento. A educação das crianças com deficiência intelectual é um direito garantido e legitimado pelo governo egípcio. O Ministério da Educação no Egito está empenhado em fornecer a essas crianças, que têm deficiência intelectual, junto com outras crianças com necessidades especiais, uma adequada educação que atenda as suas necessidades e lhes permita viver em sociedade utilizando todo o seu potencial, como crianças com desenvolvimento típico. Observações e entrevistas foram realizadas para coletar informações adicionais sobre os serviços educacionais destinados a crianças com deficiência mental no Egito. Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que, apesar dos esforços promovidos pelo Ministério da Educação, para proporcionar serviços novos e avançados para crianças com deficiência intelectual, a prestação ainda precisa de melhorias. Uma série de recomendações foi sugerida para melhorar os serviços que as crianças com deficiência intelectual recebem no Egito. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: deficiência intelectual; educação especial; inclusão.

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