Learners with special needs in Region One can now receive specialised education closer to home, following the opening of the region's first Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school in Mabaruma.

The Education Ministry said the school is the 57th of its kind nationally and can accommodate up to 30 learners. It currently has two learners enrolled and four staff members trained in special education needs and disabilities.

The Ministry described the opening as an expansion of access to specialised education in the region and another milestone in its efforts to strengthen inclusive education.

It said the aim is to ensure learners with special educational needs and disabilities have the personalised support, resources and learning opportunities they need to reach their full potential.

Specialised support within the region means learners and their families will no longer have to travel outside their communities to receive the assistance they require, according to the Ministry.

The Mabaruma school will not be the only one of its kind in Region One. The Ministry said similar schools are planned for the region's two other sub-districts, Moruca and Matarkai.

It said the aim is to ensure that learners with disabilities or special education needs across the country have specialised support closer and more convenient to their homes.