Govt Puts Measures To Accommodate The Physically Challenged In Schools

Government has taken advantage of the current level four lockdown to renovate schools across the country so that all physically challenged pupils will find life easier when learning commences, Nhau has learnt.

Schools are opening on Monday for all examination classes while the rest of the classes are set to commence learning on September 6 until December 17 when there will a break for the holidays.

The ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in collaboration with UNICEF embarked on a special programme to facilitate the exposure of every child to basic education without any challenges.

Campaigns are being carried in every province, the main target being to get every child educated despite any physical challenge being faced.

Speaking on the sidelines of the campaigns in Mazowe on Thursday, Naome Chikosha, Mashonaland Central Provincial Education Director emphasised that parents should not segregate or discriminate their children from attending school because of their appearance.

“Every child should be sent to school including the physically challenged, the poor or the rich when schools open. Measures have been put in place to accommodate them,” she said.

She said the two entities took advantage of the current level four lockdown to renovate school infrastructure such that it suites both the able bodied and those with disabilities.

“All schools in the province (Mashonaland central) now have ramps to accommodate pupils who use wheelchairs or cannot use stairs to access classrooms or ablution facilities.”

Chikosha said the programme also included deployment of special teachers to deal with pupils that have special needs in the quest to attain basic education.

In the process, Chikosha said all parents who cannot afford fees for their children must utilise the BEAM programme.

“We are appealing to parents to send their children to school on Monday despite their physical challenges or incapacity to pay fees.

So far awareness campaigns have been carried out in Mbire, Mazowe and Bindura district.

Memory Gahadza, a lifelong learning coordinator in the Education ministry under the non-formal education department also called for dropouts including adults to enroll at their nearest schools so that they attain some educational qualifications.

“We understand some of them are busy people but they can talk to us so that we come up with timetables that suit them,” she said.  Nhau/Indaba