BETWEEN 75,000 and 150,000 children with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia are being ignored by the Portuguese education system.
The situation was revealed recently by Portuguese daily newspaper Público, in a report written by Luís Miranda Correia, an expert in special educational needs, who says students with learning difficulties are ignored by the state, resulting in them receiving a totally inadequate education.
Although there are no studies indicating the exact number of students with learning difficulties, according to the report, international statistics point to the fact that between five and 10 per cent of the total student population is affected. In other words, thousands of students are victims of unsuccessful schooling. “Teachers realise these children need help, but the state system does not recognise their existence, despite having been alerted to the situation on several occasions,” said Correia.
The special needs expert highlights the necessity of creating a legal and operational framework to help these children.
