SPECIAL EDUCATION teachers are leaving the country in droves, which could have an adverse effect on the local system.

Participants in a Gleaner Editors' Forum, held at the newspaper's North Street, central Kingston offices yesterday, said a large percentage of those teachers trained to deal with students with mental and physical disabilities leave yearly for greener pastures overseas.

Special education teachers are trained at both the Mico and the Sam Sharp teachers' colleges. However, Mary Dixon, head of the special education department at the Mico University College, said about half of those trained by the college are foreigners who eventually go back home.

"Of the ones that are left, we lose approximately another 40 per cent who then go overseas," Ms. Dixon said.

Hixwell Douglas, education officer with the special education unit in the Ministry of Education and Youth, said the exodus may be affecting the most vulnerable among Jamaicans.

"Our own students and our own systems will become deprived of this knowledge and skill," Mr. Douglas said.

There are currently some 390 teachers in special education facilities islandwide and only about 100 have been trained in special education. Some 6,500 students are in special education facilities.