Linden Special Needs Centre cops three top places at National Signing Bee Competition

• School currently being reconstructed to accommodate more children

At a recently held National Signing Bee Competition which was held at the Berbice High School, three students from the Linden Special Needs Centre copped two first and one second place. In the Seven to Ten Category Bibi Shafeza Khan copped first place while Troy Scott copped second place in the 11-13 Category. In the 13-18 Category, Ulancy Emmanuel copped first place. The competition aimed to make space for students at Special Schools during Education Month and is intended to stimulate the language faculty of students by expanding their vocabulary and augmenting the stock of words they process and can employ in their work and lives.

The participating schools were the Schoonord Learning Centre for Diverse Needs (Region Three), Diamond Special Needs Centre and Beterverwagting SEN Centre (Region Four), Number Eight Primary SEN Class (Region Five), New Amsterdam Special School, Philippi Nursery School (Region Six), Linden Special Needs Centre and SEN Resource Unit (Region 10) and the David Rose Special School (Georgetown). The participants were required to spell words from looking at photographs and to express phrases using sign language.

Vice Chairman of the school’s board, former Head Teacher Cleveland Thomas, said the children were trained by a former student of the school who is differently able in hearing and speech. She graduated from the school and has now returned to serve present students. The students he said, with the right education and environment can be great assets to society. For this reason, efforts are being made to rebuild the school to a more modern and conducive facility which can house up to 65 students. The school currently has 25 students. They are being temporarily housed at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre.   “You might have a child who is visually impaired or speech impaired or even a speech impediment, you can have your child register at the Linden Special Needs School, do not keep your child home, children with special needs can accomplish great things. Special needs students should not be looked down upon, if given the right education and environment can be an asset,” Thomas said.

Anyone desirous of contributing to the project can do so either through monetary contribution, materials or labour.