Children with MR may require a more functional curriculum, as they may not be able to qualify for the general secondary and higher secondary curriculum. Thus, their education is provided primarily in Special schools with a special curriculum. The curriculum contains functional reading, writing, arithmetic, including time, travel and money and other such skills. The curriculum is normally individualized and takes into consideration the needs of the particular child. The ability of the child serves as a base during planning.
The curriculum of children with moderate and
severe mentally challenged emphasizes the imparting of functional skills.
This includes personal, social, occupational and recreational activities with academic skills incorporated suitably for those children who have the potential to learn.
Ideally the content should be so chosen from among the various tasks that they have a high probability of requirement in day to day living.
Special schools provide a more suitable curriculum, a better-organized daily routine and a bright and cheerful environment with diverse activities, freedom of expression and movement. This facilitates social adjustment and social development.
Special schools also function as resource centres for teachers and children in ordinary schools. Staff of special schools may work not only with the children but also with their families. They may also work with children who are not yet in school and perhaps also with those who have already left. The schools themselves provide not only advice on methods of teaching children but can also provide resource material such as specialized material for teaching language, reading and number work and advise parents on the advantages and disadvantages of these methods.
Some of these schools have toy libraries for children with mentally challenged and provide a local forum for advice on practical problems of teaching. They also develop film and videotape libraries, so that staff and families can observe a demonstration of a particular teaching programme in action on aids and appliances and means of helping children to use or adapt to them.
