A nine-year-old Belfast boy is being denied a proper education because no
school in Northern Ireland can deal with his challenging behaviour, his
mother claims.
Dean Clarke, from Castlereagh, suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) and has only had an hour of home tuition a day since
December after he was forced to leave a mainstream and special needs primary
school.
His mother Nicola, who has three other children, told the Belfast Telegraph
it has been suggested to her that a special boarding school in England may
be the last resort for him.
"Dean has tried to commit suicide, set fire to places and has broken
windows. He is on Ritalin and sleeping tablets," she said.
"But I do not want to send my child across the water."
Nicola said the situation is very stressful for her, her mother and her
other children.
"I am totally disgusted with the education available here. There is
nothing for Dean," she said.
"I want him to go to school in Northern Ireland and to have a proper
education. If I was the one keeping him out of school I would be taken to
court.
"I do not want Dean to go away from home.
"They should have schools here to deal with children like Dean. It is
ridiculous that I have to fight to try and get him educated.
"He has already fallen behind and this is going to get worse with just
an hour of tuition a day.
"Dean can be a loveable child but he needs help."
A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Education and Library Board said: "
It is the board's policy not to comment on individual pupils."
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