adminKudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO Central District is faced with a shortage of special needs schools, a development that has resulted in some pupils living with disabilities failing to access education.
The district’s Schools Inspector, Mrs Nozipho Ngulube, said this in an interview on the sidelines of a Community Outreach Programme in Bulawayo’s CBD yesterday.
She said out of 31 schools in the district, 20 primary schools and 11 secondary schools, only five cater for special needs.
These are King George V1 Memorial School, Simanyane Special Care School, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, St Francis and John Slaven Primary School.
“Learners end up failing to access education services because some cannot afford school fees at these schools as special needs means higher school fees,” said Mrs Ngulube.
She said the district is conducting an outreach programme for on the spot screening of learners with different stakeholders.
“After the screening, learners who do not have extreme needs and can manage learning at a mainstream schools are recommended for transfer. We advise their parents to transfer them, however, let it be noted that it’s their choice. This will help decongest special needs schools,” Mrs Ngulube said.
“The major reason why we are decongesting special needs schools is to make sure that all learners have access to education even if they are from a low income family.”
She said another way to decongest special needs schools is putting inclusive infrastructure at mainstream schools.
Mrs Ngulube said the outreach is in line with the revised ministerial vision of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“The vision says Zimbabwe aims to be a leading provider of 21st century inclusive, quality education for socio-economic transformation by 2030. The mission is to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant, and competence driven primary and secondary and non-formal education,” she said.
The outreach is designed to respond to the needs of children and ensure education facilities are closer to their homes.
– -@tamary98
Online Reporter