61 drilled to promote inclusive education
Fount for Nations has trained 61 people to promote inclusive education in Mzimba District.
Speaking on Wednesday during the award of certificates, Fount for Nations executive director Patience Mkandawire said they trained the group to safeguard the rights of special needs children in the district.
She said: “We want the group to go out in the communities and champion inclusive education by making sure that children with disabilities are protected and are attending school.
“We continue to call for different stakeholders in Mzimba, including the district council and traditional leaders to champion inclusive education.”
Ministry of Education Department of Inclusive Education chief education officer Peter Msendema said there is need to sensitise Mzimba communities on the importance of inclusive education.
He said: “We call on organisations, councils and concerned stakeholders to sensitise communities on the need to invest in and embrace inclusive education to make it successful.
“We should make sure that no child with disabilities is discriminated against.”
Msendema commended Fount for Nations for the training, saying it is complementing government’s efforts in promoting the programme.
On his part, Inkosi Kampingo Sibande said chiefs in Mzimba have been engaging different stakeholders on the need to empower children with disabilities.
“Therefore, we will work with the trained champions and all stakeholders to ensure that children with disabilities are not discriminated against,” he said.
One of the champions Rhoda Chipeta, a teacher at St. Paul’s Primary School at Mzimba Boma, said they will go to communities, identify children with disabilities and ensure they get protected and access education.
Fount for Nations is implementing Pamodzi for Inclusive Education in South-East Africa Project in the district to improve the environment in schools for learners with disabilities
