Disabled S. Korean students struggle to find right school

SEOUL: At Park Hyunsoo’s home in Gangseogu, western Seoul, weekday mornings are just like in any other household with young students.

She wakes up her daughter, fixes her something to eat and rushes around the house to get everything she needs for the day in her school bag.

When her daughter is finally off to school, most mums would be glad that the day’s morning task is over.

But for Park, it’s when the real agony kicks in.

“I am haunted by the thought that my daughter may be bullied by classmates or be left like a loner with no friends,” Park said.

Park’s daughter, in fifth grade, has developmental disorders.

The 12yearold finds social interactions extremely difficult.

She cannot speak or walk very well and sometimes she screams, seemingly without any reason.

“My daughter needs constant attention throughout classes. It is difficult for her to stay focused, especially in a regular education classroom,” she said.

She sends her child to a regular elementary school near home, because in her district of over 600,000 residents, there is no special education institution for students with disabilities.

According to the Education Ministry, as of this month, there are 174 special schools – public and private – in South Korea.

They accommodate less than 30% of the nation’s 89,353 schoolage children with mental and physical disabilities.

Lee Eunja, vicepresident of Korean Parents Network for the People with Disabilities, said special schools could better prepare disabled children to live a better and independent life after education.

Individualised vocational training is essential for students with disabilities because it can help them build an appropriate career path, Lee said. — The Korea Herald/Asia News Network