The announcement that two residential special schools in New Zealand will be closed has reignited debate concerning resourcing in mainstream schools, and is one of the issues to be discussed at a national conference in Dunedin tomorrow.
The Making a Difference in Education conference will be held at the University of Otago College of Education, and will include a session on teacher aides and the little-researched area of students' perspective on teacher aides, by University of Otago College of Education senior lecturer Dr Gill Rutherford.
Dr Rutherford is an advocate of inclusive education and believes every child should be able to go to their local school.
She said all children had a right to education and it was important that teachers, teacher aides, pupils and parents worked in partnership to deliver the best education possible for all pupils.
While resourcing could be an issue in disabled children accessing the education they have a right to, Dr Rutherford said other factors also played a significant role.
These included teachers' beliefs and attitudes, and teacher education and professional development opportunities.
The conference has been organised by the New Zealand Educational Institute Otago branch and will include topics such as early education, stress management, supporting teacher aides, success for Maori learners, team organisation and getting the best from education.
The conference runs from 9am until 4.30pm.
