Educator Rights and Duties in Special Education – a Comparative Dtudy between the United States and South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to consider the rights of educators in special education by comparing the laws and policies of South Africa and the United States. This discussion begins with background discussion of the special education systems, followed by over-views of the employment rights and duties of educators in both countries. It is recommended that specific legislation dealing with special education in South Africa should be drafted in order to address the needs of learners and educators adequately. In order to succeed in the provision of inclusive education and fair working conditions for educators in South Africa, translating policy into action needs serious attention. It remains essential that educators receive the training, resources and support to which they are entitled, and that the class sizes and workloads are kept within reasonable limits.