Cadecom steps up inclusive education awareness

Catholic Development Commission (Cadecom) early childhood development officer Justine Nguluwe on Saturday urged mother groups in Traditional Authority Nazombe in Phalombe to intensify campaigns to encourage parents to send children with disabilities to school.

He said this when his organisation, which is implementing a two-year inclusive education programme in the area  with funding from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa), visited Mwimba Primary School Mother Group in the district.

During the event, the mother group donated uniforms to learners at the school.

“We believe we have many vulnerable children in the country. I call on other parents to contribute something for the less-privileged. Do not just keep children in homes but send them to school so that they interact [with other children].

“I am impressed with the community resource mobilisation and responsiveness towards inclusive education. Keeping children with disabilities in homes is not a solution,” he said.

Blantyre Archdiocese Cadecom diocesan secretary Mandinda Zungu said they are working in the project with Ministry of Health.

“We are impressed that so many children, regardless of their status, are going to school. [We are also happy] that teachers are eager to learn sign language,” he said.