27 Jan 2015

The provision of anti-corruption braille materials and posters in sign language is a step in the right direction.

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraele Goya, said this at launch of the braille anti- corruption policy at Pudulogong Rehabilitation Centre in Mochudi on January 26.

He said the handing over of anti-corruption braille materials was in line with government policy of social inclusion, in which continuous efforts were being made to strengthen the integration of people living with disabilities in the mainstream society.

“Consistent with our Vison 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation, the government continues to appeal to the nation’s collective moral conscience to show compassion towards vulnerable sections of our population, the young, elderly, sick and handicapped,” he said. 

Mr Goya said the ministry continued to implement inclusive education policy to achieve the goal of education for all. The assistant minister said the reason behind establishment of the department of special support services in 2012 was to ensure that disabled learners enjoyed the same opportunities as others.

He said 220 learners and young people were recipients of the anti-corruption policy, of which 125 were in primary schools, 65 at secondary level and 30 at Pudulogong rehabilitation centre. 

“The ministry has produced 100 anti-corruption braille materials, 400 posters and 270 bookmarks for use by learners and young people with hearing impairment,” said Mr Goya. 

He said it was imperative that the crusade against corruption should involve a coalition of forces adding that he has no doubt that widening dissemination of information on the evils of corruption to previously marginalised sections of society would promote acceptable, ethical conduct and consequently reverse the spread of corruption. 

Mr Goya called on all Batswana and other stakeholders to help government reach its intended mandate particularly that the provision of braille materials would play a catalytic role to help people living with disabilities to take their rightful place in the national development process. 

He commended the department of special support services for its initiative of transcribing the anti-corruption policy into braille and producing posters in sign language. The anti-corruption unit at the education ministrythrough which employees are sensitised about corruption and its corrosive effect on the economy was also commended.

Giving an overview of the project, the acting deputy permanent secretary for support services, Mr Leonard Muthetho described corruption as a culture that needs the use of language for it to be learned and understood.

He said thus the ministry proposed to come up with the initiative so that the disabled in the society are not left behind to learn about corruption and its consequences on the economy.  Mr Muthetho further said they made braille so that the disabled would also read for themselves about corruption. 

In his welcoming remarks, Kgosi Segale Linchwe said Dikgosi in Kgatleng have already made a contribution towards support and care for children living with disability. He called on Batswana and other stakeholders to give support to non-governmental organisations that provide care services to those children.

Kgosi Segale requested churches to come forth and lend a helping hand to the success of these organisations. 

Giving a vote of thanks, Member of Parliament for Mochudi West, Mr Gilbert Mangole said the education ministry had made a milestone and answered the call by disabled people to help them have access to critical information. 

He said corruption was growing rampantly in Botswana and there was need for concerted efforts to fight it and bringing the disabled on board would ultimately sensitise them about it.

Mr Mangole challenged other government ministries and parastatals to emulate MoESD so that the right information could reach the disabled communities. ENDS