17 Feb 2013

Education and Skills Development assistant minister, Mr Patrick Masimolole says he is aware that in order to meet the evolving needs of society, schools currently enrol fulltime students with disabilities.

He said it would not be advisable to create special education posts in all schools due to shortage of special education teachers and the fact that the target population is not necessarily widespread. Mr Masimolole was responding to a question in Parliament from Gaborone West South MP, Mr Botsalo Ntuane.

He explained that special education posts had been created in schools which have special education units, adding that students with mild disabilities were integrated into mainstream classes.

Further, Mr Masimolole said the ministry also supports Non-governmental Organisations which offer educational programmes for learners with disabilities through provision of subventions and monitoring of programme delivery.

“My ministry is not yet in a position to introduce sign language as a subject due to resource constraints. However, the ministry is committed to provision of inclusive education to cater for the needs of all learners,” he added.

To this end, he said, a sign language handbook was developed in 2009 to enable teachers and learners to learn the language for ease of communication. Mr Masimolole also said payment of the scarce skills allowance for special education teachers was approved by government in August 2012 and was immediately effected.

The allowance, he said was paid at a rate of 25 per cent of the teacher’s salary and it covered all teachers who were performing duties in the different areas of special education.

Gaborone West South MP had wanted to know whether Education and Skills Development minister was aware that in order to meet the evolving needs of society most schools currently enrol fulltime students with disabilities.

Mr Ntuane also wanted to know whether the minister would consider creating special education posts in all school establishment registers, introducing sign language as a subject to be taught to all students from primary to senior secondary level as well as introducing scarce skills allowances for special education posts in all schools. ENDS