Following a recent call for supply Learning Support Educators (LSE), one might get the false impression of those LSEs already employed in the educational sector. Critics of our educators are too ready to jump on the band-wagon and decry the status and competence of what must be one of the most stressful positions in our educational system and to claim that LSEs do not possess the necessary qualifications and skills to perform their job.

Let us put the record straight and correct the wrong perception prevalent among many critics. LSEs make up a group of very committed educators within our schools — state, religious and private. They hold different qualifications, ranging from certificates and diplomas to degrees and many are reading for a Masters degree in inclusive education. As ‘good’ educators, they continuously look to improve and hone their skills.

The challenges many learners faced in the class-room were unacknowledged or simply not understood in the past. As our knowledge of human learning has evolved in recent decades and greater sensitivity and strategies have been adopted, the role of the LSE has become pivotal in helping individual learners and small groups needing assistance in their learning programme, especially during the years of the pandemic.

We hope that the misconceptions surrounding LSEs will once and for all be dispelled and  they are given due credit for their commitment and dedication in these challenging times.