Only one of ten children with disabilities in school, Kibaha

[BabuK]

Nine out of every ten children with disabilities are not taken to school in Kibaha municipality, Coast Region and authorities are called to take affirmative action.

Among reasons attributed to the problem include negative perceptions towards persons with disabilities, unfriendly infrastructure in schools, lack of appropriate learning materials and meager budget allocation for special groups.

Addressing journalists in the region, the Municipal's education officer for special education, Leonard Henricko, admitted that the public there harbours what he described as ‘very negative perceptions towards children with disabilities.'

"The situation is so bad that some parents hide their children with disabilities," he revealed.

"Some of these children are given very bad and deeming nick names, some parents neglect them," he went on to reveal.
"But even when sent to school, the schools are also not friendly for children with disabilities in terms of infrastructure and study material and equipment," he said.

He explained that the education budget allocation for special need children in the municipality and other parts of the country is very limited and does not meet the children's needs.

He took the time to commend support efforts from ADD International in Kibaha Municipality noting that with their support, the municipal has been able to increase school attendance of children with disabilities.

"With their support at least 15 teachers have undergone training on how to teach children with special needs," he said.

Anatolia Masembo, the Education and Training Inclusive Education Programme coordinator for ADD International said her firm has facilitated the establishment of several centres to help children with disabilities.
"We have reached out to 265 schools, trained 1596 teachers and helped 4532 disabled kids enroll to school,'' she said.

Speaking to press, parent of a child with disability, Kuluthum Omary (34) said transport is the major challenge when it comes to sending her child to school.
"My son is 12 years old but I have failed to take him to school to date because it is far from home and we have no means of transport," she lamented.

Like her, other interviewed parents also cited transport limitations as the main reason why they fail to take their children to school.

Source: The Guardian

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