A parent has claimed the Ministry of Education does not do enough to serve children with special needs in the public school system.

And she further claims children are suffering because teachers and paraeducators are not trained to deal with students with learning disabilities.

Their problems range from minor learning disabilities to Down's syndrome or autism.

There are currently 800 children with special needs in the public school system.

"Each school is different," said the parent, who did not want her name used. "A lot is dependent on the principal and how firm the principal is in managing staff.

"But a majority of parents of children with special needs believe that they have to struggle to get them, I want to say the basics, but the services that the child requires.

"It's really hard. If the parent is not well versed, well educated in what their child's specific needs are and if they don't have the time or the confidence and they leave it to the school, then those kids are finished."

The Ministry of Education yesterday urged any parents with concerns to make them known.

"We have some things that we are doing very well but we have some things that we need to improve on I want to make that clear," said Joeann Smith, assistant director of Student Services.

"Special education is a funny thing. It's not something that you can just do. It's always evolving. It's an ongoing process."

Teachers are expected to teach children with a range of problems but are insufficiently trained to do so, the parent claimed.

"We have a policy of inclusion because they took away the special schools. All kids are being taught in regular schools.

"The responsibility of the classroom teacher is to educate every student in their class. They have a learning support teacher but [that person] doesn't have to take any responsibility."

Special needs students are given individual education programme plans (IEP) specifying their academic goals and the method by which they will be obtained. The plan is then signed off by parents.

The woman maintains that IEPs are not being followed by teachers because they are not trained to use them.

And she said paraeducators, persons hired to assist in the classroom, face a similar hurdle. According to the woman, there are some "wonderful" paraeducators who take the time to research the disability their student suffers from however "they have little if any professional development offered to them".

"They don't need any training for the job," she said. "They are there just to provide for the care of these children.

"They may know zero about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but they are attached to your child. They are supposed to take direction from the classroom teacher but the classroom teacher doesn't have training in disabilities, the paraeducator doesn't have training. They have to go to the learning support teacher."

Paraeducators were not meant to be trained, Ms Smith stated.

"Could we be doing better? Of course we could be doing better. One of the goals in the [Education Ministry's Blueprint for Reform in Education] is to take a look at the learning support programme.

"That is where we want to improve and certainly we will be doing that. Every day when parents call and they have a concern, we're always looking at how we can do things better. Generally, that's how we serve children."

She added that there are persons on staff who can provide expert assistance to special needs kids.

"We are making an attempt to serve children better. I wouldn't want any parent to think they're not getting what they need. Parents call us all the time and we go out of our way to ensure that their child is getting the best."

Asked what typically happens if a parent has concerns, Ms Smith said the child's education programme is reviewed with suggestions made where necessary.

"Do we always agree with what the parents say the child needs, no. We always try to be professional. Generally speaking we are able to meet the parent's need as it relates to the programming."

Cathy Sousa, chairman of the Learning Disabilities Association of Bermuda said: "The Learning Disabilities Association serves parents and teachers and supports them in their role in educating children with challenges. We are very aware that there are many concerns among both parents and teaches at the lack of services.

"We are working to provide some professional development opportunities at our annual workshops and to provide support groups and education forums."