Daley concerned as staffing shortages reportedly force school for blind to turn away students

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Gender, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, Denise Daley, is calling for an urgent assessment of the staffing situation at the Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired amid reports that it is being forced to turn away students because of staffing shortages.

In a statement on Monday, Daley described it as ‘unacceptable’ that children who are visually impaired or living with multiple disabilities could be turned away from the institution, emphasising the importance of specialised education for their development, independence and future opportunities.

“This situation is deeply concerning. No child should be placed in a position where they cannot access the education they need because there are not enough teachers and support personnel available to meet their needs. We have to do better for our children with disabilities,” Daley said.