19 Nov 2015

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Fidelis Molao, says there are no special schools or units that cater for children with Dyslexia or learning difficulties.

“Instead such children are placed in mainstream schools across the country,” he added.

Responding to a question in parliament from Mmadinare MP, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, Mr Molao said there were teachers who had been appointed as Heads of Department (Learning Difficulties) in each primary school, “the aim, being that children with signs of Dyslexia be provided with remediation strategies to help them cope during their learning.”

He also added that “each school with a unit has a Senior Teacher with Special Education qualification. 

The Ministry expects 41 teachers to graduate from the University of Botswana in May 2016 with Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education.”

Learners with signs of Autism, Mr Molao said were admitted and catered for in Non-Government Organisation Centres (NGOs), such as; Motswedi Rehabilitation Centre in Mochudi, Sekolo sa Annistine in Molepolole, Tshidilo Stimulation Centre in Maun, Sefhare Stimulation Centre. Where such centres do not exist, Assistant Minister said Autistic learners were placed in units for Intellectual Disability. 

Furthermore, he said government provided Annual Grants (80 per cent of Annual Recurrent Budget, whilst NGO’s raised 20 per cent of Annual Recurrent Budget) to assist centres in the implementation of their programmes. 

This, he said included; remuneration for staff, procurement of teaching and learning materials, accommodation and feeding for learners.

In the whole country, Mr Molao said there were 37 Special Education Units attached to government primary schools which catered for Education and training for learners with Mental Retardation or Intellectual Disabilities. 

Examples of these, he said were; Solomon Dihutso in Mogoditshane, Nhake in Tsabong and  Bakgatla in Moshupa, . 

These Units, he said had a total enrollment of 1 239 learners, 106 teachers and 71 of these were specialists in the field of Mental Retardation.

Additionally, Assistant Minister said there were also 12 NGOs offering stimulation or Pre School (including Camphill/Rankoromane in Otse, Cheshire Foundation Botswana in Gaborone) to children with signs of Mental Retardation. The enrollment for the year 2015, he said was 301, adding that the centres had 19 teachers of which seven were specialists in the area of Special Education. 

Staffing rations for Special Education, Mr Molao said was as follows; 1:8 for leaners with Hearing Impairment plus one Teacher Aide, 1:8 for leaners with Visual Impairment plus two Teacher Aides and 1:10 for leaners with Intellectual Disabilities/Mental Retardation plus two Teacher Aides.

Learners with Physical Disabilities, without any of the above types, Mr Molao said were expected to be included in the mainstream schools. 

Those who have additional disabilities, he said were provided with Teacher Aides or Support Staff in accordance with the severity of their conditions.

Mr Mzwinila wanted Mr Molao to state if there were Special Education schools to cater for children with signs of Dyslexia, Autism or Mental Retardation and where were they located. Ends