admin
ACCORDING to the United Nations, “education is a basic human right that works to raise men and women out of poverty, level inequalities and ensure sustainable development. But, worldwide, 244 million children and youth are still out of school for social, economic and cultural reasons. Education is one of the most powerful tools in lifting excluded children and adults out of poverty and is a stepping stone to other fundamental human rights. It is the most sustainable investment. The right to quality education is already firmly rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international legal instruments, the majority of which are the result of the work of Unesco and the United Nations.”
Furthermore, “education is an empowering right in itself and one of the most powerful tools by which economically and socially marginalised children and adults can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully in society. To unleash the full transformational power of education and meet international markers of progress such as those of the Sustainable Development Agenda, everyone must have access to it.”
It is against that background that we appeal to education authorities in Bulawayo and across the country to ensure that children with disabilities have access to education. This paper, recently published an article that revealed that parents with disabled children felt that their children were being excluded from mainstream education in the city as most schools did not have the right infrastructure to accommodate them. Most schools do not have learning aids or even teachers to attend to disabled children or children with various conditions that make it difficult for them to cope in ordinary classes.
Parents interviewed said their children face barriers to enjoying their basic human rights and inclusion in education. Speaking at the World Autism celebrations held at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Museum recently, a parent, Xolani Moyo from Bulawayo, shared her experience raising twins with autism. Initially, she grappled with a mix of emotions, including frustration.
It is important to note that despite the presence of facilities like Riverside Stimulation Centre in Bulawayo, which caters to children with autism, most schools in the city remain largely inaccessible to children with disabilities.
Online Reporter