Infographic: Special needs education in South Africa

Ensuring education for all, including children with special needs, is the Department of Basic Education’s mandate. DBE has moved towards Inclusive Education which means mainstreaming children in public schools . The department is tasked with ensuring that students with learning disabilities are adequately accommodated. Last week, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education queried the department on its efforts in fulfilling this mandate as many were concerned that full-service schools have become a dumping ground for children with special needs who need smaller classes, assistive devices and teaching assistants. If, after assessment, a child with special needs cannot be placed in a local school, there are "alternative" schools, that is, special schools where they can be placed. Here are some statistics.