ELIOT AND MYRA OSRIN VOCATIONAL UNIT INAUGURATED AT HERZLIA HIGH SCHOOL
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Amanda Israel |
Eliot and Myra Osrin |
Lara Marks |
Over the past decade, United Herzlia Schools has made significant progress with regard to the inclusive practices at the different school campuses, from pre-primary to high. As changes have taken place in the educational arena as a whole, it has been necessary to change and adapt these inclusive practices and policies.
Because Herzlia is a community school, Herzlia strives to reflect all the members of our community. And so, we work constantly to broaden our horizons and push boundaries to make this possible.
Herzlia recently held a presentation on inclusive education to honour the inauguration of the Eliot and Myra Osrin Vocational Unit.
Brian Goldberg, Chairman of the United Herzlia Schools, introduced the proceedings by thanking Eliot and Myra Osrin for their ongoing support of the school, and for Eliot’s continued valuable guidance in the governance of the institution in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the United Herzlia Schools.
Presenters included Amanda Israel (class of 1995), Head of the Developmental Education Unit (DEU) and Workskills Training Programme, Lara Marks (class of 1989), Head of Educational Support, Geoff Cohen (class of 1976), Director Education and principal of Middle School.
They highlighted the concept of the DEU and explained the working of the unit. Learners with developmental delays are able to be enrolled at Herzlia and receive developmentally appropriate tuition and skill development in their specific areas of need. This unit aims to reduce the effect of the child’s barriers to learning and prepares the children in the unit to be functional, independent and productive members of our community.
The Workskills Training Programme was introduced as an alternative stream to Matric. It was designed for learners who prefer to choose a more practical, career oriented academic programme. This Workskills Training Programme forms part of the Vocational Unit.
In the past, learners on the Workskills Training Programme would have been placed on an Individualised Education Plan (IEP) and been fully integrated with mainstream learners. However, although this system achieved the goals of inclusion, it did not necessarily provide the learner with any recognised certification. The Workskills Training Programme aims to attain nationally recognized certification in the areas of literacy and numeracy, as well as providing learners with career-oriented certification in the area chosen by each learner.
Throughout his or her course duration, each learner will attend mainstream classes which correlate with their chosen course as well as having to complete various work-shadow placements, which enable the learner to establish a network of contacts and the gain working experience in his or her chosen field.
In addition to academics, both the DEU and the Workskills Training Programme incorporate subjects such as Lifeskills, Social Skills and Computer Literacy. These programmes have grown from strength to strength over the years and many of our previous pupils are currently furthering their studies and/or gainfully employed.