Govt disappoints Macoha on inclusive education

Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) has appealed to government to urgently address challenges hindering learners with disabilities from accessing basic education in public schools.

This follows a survey the council conducted in Kasungu and Mzimba districts last year which revealed that disability-unfriendly classrooms and lack of or inadequate special needs teachers continue to block persons with disabilities from enjoying their right to education.

With financial assistance from the Tilitonse Fund, the organisation is implementing a two-year project in selected parts of the two districts.

The project aims at improving access to basic services among people with disabilities, especially in the education sector.

And speaking in an interview a day before the opening of the current term, Macoha-Tilitonse Project Coordinator, Chimwemwe Mungomo, said it was sad that children with disabilities continue to face challenges to access basic education because of lack of friendly classrooms and specialist teachers.

Mungomo also expressed worry at government’s lukewarm approach to issues surrounding children with disabilities.

“We feel government is not doing enough to resolve challenges hampering inclusive education. There are so many challenges hindering learners with disabilities to enjoy their right to education just like their friends without disabilities.”

She also urged government to train specialist caregivers to cater for learners with disabilities in early childhood development (ECD) centres.

Inkosi Mzukuzuku Jere of Mzimba said his area has registered an increase in the number of parents with children with disabilities sending their wards to school following the Macoha awareness campaign.

Mzukuzuku Jere agreed with Mungomo that disability-unfriendly classrooms and lack of specialist teachers remains a big challenge towards integrating inclusive education from the grassroots.