Amir Jaber Prize testimony to care for those with special needs

- Kuwait's Representative to the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ambassador Dr. Ali Al-Tarrah told KUNA, Tuesday, the awards ceremony of Amir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research and Training in Special Needs Education for the Mentally Disabled for 2012 would be attended, February 29, by a host of UNESCO officials. The diplomat said the prize is testimony to the State of Kuwait's keenness to support care for educational services and research that would help the field of education for those with special needs. The prize is focus of much attention and interest within the UNESCO and beyond, he added. The awards ceremony would be held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the dignitaries attending include UNESCO General Conference President Katalin Bogyay and heads of UNESCO groups, who all received invitations by the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf. On the award, the ambassador pointed out that it rewards one person or institution from the Arab world and another from a different part of the world once every two years. It is awarded those with unique contributions to improving of quality of education of those with special needs and to facilitating their integration into their societies. The prize consists of a sum of USD 40,000 equally divided between the two prize winners, and certificates of merit. According to the prize's official page, "Nominations are made by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and by non-government organizations maintaining official relations with UNESCO. "The five jury members, of different nationalities, are appointed by the Director-General for a term of four years." The Kuwaiti ambassador had met UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova earlier this month and discussed creation of a regional center under the UNESCO in Kuwait, which specializes in research and training in the field of education for those with special needs. The Kuwaiti proposal was well received by the UN official, who considered it another humanitarian gesture to Kuwait's credi