Formation en Education Specialisee
(Training in Specialized Education)
Jan. 2022 - Dec 2023
This was an ongoing series of training and supervisory sessions for two established special needs/ inclusive centers in Senegal, 'Le Petite Prince d'Handiscole' and 'Centre Aminata M'Baye'. The training was conducted by Mme. Najate Bengeloun, Director of the Elmer Special School also in Senegal.
Training at 'Le Petite Prince d'Handiscole' was once a month for five months, starting in January 2022. It was a practical, participatory training for 6 teachers from Handiscole - a school which has .Subsequently, there were two supervisory visits to ensure and evaluate the implementation of the training. The trainees were also invited to the Elmer Special School, thereby fostering cooperation between the centers and the cross-fertilization of ideas and knowledge. A van from Elmer went at 6:00 a.m. to pick them up in another town- Rufisque- and brought them to Elmer where they stayed for the day. A small stipend for gas, the driver, and a prepared lunch worked very well. There was additional follow-up to monitor implementation by the trained participants. Handiscole is an inclusive school with 1/3 handicapped kids, 1/3 kids whose parents are handicapped and 1/3 kids non-challenged. The dynamic Director of the school, Mme. Anna Gueye, has been a partner in CHIP-I's 'Light It Up Blue' activities for autism awareness in April, and was interviewed by Kinkiliba, a local Senegalese TV station.
In January 2023, ten special needs teachers/ educators from Centre Aminata M'Baye were also provided with training in specialized education by by Mme. Najate Bengeloun. Follow-up supervisory training will be done later in the year. Centre Aminata M'Baye was one of the very first special needs centers in Senegal to receive training from CHIP-I and has remained a partner to CHIP-I activities whenever feasible.
Not only was this a good experience for the teachers to get the knowledge from this very passionate teacher, engaged in her work which she has been doing for 25 years, but it is putting centers together to work as a team.
