As efforts intensify to improve literacy levels among youth, a veteran educator has called for greater support for students with learning difficulties, including more specially trained teachers to meet their needs.

Founder of the Astra Babb Reading Clinic, Dr Astra Babb, said while teachers receive training to educate the typical learner, many require additional specialised instruction to effectively support students with exceptionalities.

As she opened a five-week summer reading programme at the Barbados Community College on Monday, Dr Babb told Barbados TODAY that more must be done to equip teachers with the skills needed to work with children who learn differently.