Sustainability in Education - Reimagining the Future for Learners with Special Needs

Our educational system today is designed with an approach that fits well with mainstream students. SEN learners and those with learning difficulties are often left behind, not because they lack potential but because the system wasn't built with them in mind. To make education genuinely sustainable, we must shift our mindset from simply helping these children "cope" in school to empowering them with skills, confidence, and purpose that last well beyond the classroom.

Meeting Needs Early: The Key to Long-Term Success Sustainability begins with early intervention. The earlier we identify a child's needs, the more time we have to provide support that can truly change the course of their life. Early screening, teacher awareness, and parent advocacy play an enormous role in this process.

Too often, children with learning challenges are misunderstood as lazy, inattentive, or poorly behaved. Their struggles are seen as problems to be fixed rather than signals that they need support. When we delay intervention, we are not just prolonging academic struggles, but we are increasing the risk of long-term emotional, social, and mental health challenges.

By recognizing signs early and acting promptly, we can equip students with tools to regulate their emotions, strengthen their learning skills, and build their self-esteem. Early intervention is not just a response but a preventative measure. It’s about changing the trajectory of a child’s life while there’s still time to make the most significant impact.

Holistic Learning

Sustainable education for SEN learners must go beyond textbooks and test scores. These children often need a multi-layered approach that combines academic instruction with therapy, social-emotional learning, and life skills development.

Think of a child with ADHD who struggles to sit still and focus. Giving them extra worksheets does not help. Instead, they might need a calm classroom environment, movement breaks, cognitive training for working memory, and emotional coaching to help them manage frustration. Similarly, a student with dyslexia may thrive with assistive technology, phonics-based reading programs, and positive reinforcement that rebuilds confidence.

A sustainable education model understands that the support we give these children is not a privilege but a necessity, and this help must be personalized. What works for one child may not work for another, so collaboration between educators, psychologists, therapists, and families is so important. When the whole child is supported, it is not just their academics but rather their overall development and well-being is taken care of.

Teaching for Life, Not Just for School. For children with learning challenges, sustainability also means preparing them for life beyond school. Too often, the system focuses narrowly on getting students through exams or graduating on time, with little thought on what happens next. But what good are passing grades if a child does not have the skills to live independently, earn a living, or feel confident navigating the world?

We must begin by asking different questions: Does this student have simple life skills? Can they live independently as they grow up? Or have a career?

Career awareness and skill-building should start early, especially for students who may not take the traditional university route. Vocational training, internships, and mentorship programs can be life-changing. These opportunities give students real-world exposure, help them discover what they are good at, and show them that their future doesn’t have to be limited by their challenges.

We also need to rethink success. For many students, success isn’t academic brilliance but independence, self-advocacy, finding a job they enjoy, and contributing to their community. A sustainable education system values all these forms of success equally.

Supporting Families and Communities No child thrives in isolation. Sustainable education also involves building a support system for families. Parents of children with SEN often feel overwhelmed, judged, or uncertain about how to best support their child. Schools need to step in as allies.

Workshops, support groups, counselling services, and regular communication can make a huge difference. When educated and empowered, parents become strong advocates for their children. When schools view families as partners, a powerful alliance is formed that benefits the child immensely.

Moreover, communities play a crucial role in sustainability. Employers, local organizations, and neighbors must be educated on inclusion and accessibility. Children with learning difficulties become adults with unique strengths—if society is ready to receive them.

Moving Forward to an Inclusive Future,

Sustainable education doesn’t mean lowering standards but raising them in the right direction. It means acknowledging that every child, regardless of ability, deserves a future filled with possibility. It means ensuring that the supports and systems we put in place today will still serve these learners tomorrow.

We must build schools that aim not just to educate but also to equip.

We must create environments that nurture curiosity, honour differences, and invest in long-term well-being. We must shift the narrative from "how do we get this child through the year?" to "how do we help this child build a life?"

Only then will education be truly sustainable—not just in theory but also in practice.

Author Massrat Shaikh, Educational Psychologist. Founder of Kawakib Solutions www.kawakib.com