EDUCATION Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi has unveiled plans aimed at students with special needs.

This includes a pre-rehabilitation project for students with mental illness and Down Syndrome at intermediate and secondary schools.

A gardening project will also be implemented in tandem with Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to encourage students to beautify their school grounds.

Accommodate

He said government schools were able to accommodate 1,383 special needs students in the past academic year. Of these, 436 are mentally ill and 241 physically handicapped, while 134 are visual impaired, 214 hearing impaired, 343 suffer from articulation disorders and 15 suffer from autism.

A total of 319 teachers received special training to deal with students with special educational needs, the minister said.