07 Dec 2015

The establishment of special education units in various schools is a sign that government is taking a leading role in issues of education pertaining to People Living With Disabilites (PWD’s).

Speaking at the Lobatse District Disability day, Motse wa Badiri training quality assurance officer, Mr David Moatshe, hailed the non-governmental organisations for playing a pivotal role especially in vocational training centres where people living with disabilities had an equal opportunity to release their maximum potential.

Mr Moatshe hailed government for affirmative action initiatives geared towards giving PWD’s an opportunity to benefit from different government programmes.

Government, he said has urged different departments and organisations with delegated recruitment powers to make a special dispensation when considering PWD’s for recruitment and employment.

The special education units, which form an integral part of regular and non-formal education in almost every district are meant to mainstream the education of PWD’s in all local schools.

Mr Moatshe said at these vocational centers PWD’s are supported with technical devices and appliances such as modified vehicles, computers, braille machines that enable them to have accessible and conducive learning environment.

He however said PWD’s still faced challenges and barriers in issues of accessibility that might prevent them to live an independent life.

“It is therefore imperative for the government to continue facilitating accessibility measure such as infrastructure, communication, technology and transportation that will enable

PWD’s to interact with the entire society with minimal limitations,” he said. Having been mandated to register PWD’s, the Lobatse District Disability Committee in collaboration with the Lobatse Town Council (LTC) has so far registered 168 PWD’s.

In order to ensure their inclusiveness in issues of education, they have 33 students at Botlhakga Primary School special class, of which six of them are under normal stream in local schools and eight of them placed in rehabilitation centers outside Lobatse.

As a way of empowering PWD’s economically, the Lobatse District has 14 of them in poverty eradication programmes while 13 are attached to Tirelo Sechaba. The town council also assists 37 PWD’s under different social welfare programmes.

After the introduction of the disability cash transfer, Lobatse has had 30 eligible PWD’swho have been enrolled. Mr Moatshe therefore urged those who have not yet been registered to do so in order to access services accordingly.

He said inclusiveness and accessibility could be achieved if the challenges faced by PWD’s were eliminated. He therefore encouraged all to embrace disability and accept colleagues as members of the community as they form yet another creation that contributes differently to the nation.

Senior district officer development, Ms Kenosi Sethaile said the objectives of the day were to disseminate information and sensitise PWD’s and the general community about issues pertaining to disability.

Ms Sethaile said the day was also observed to showcase and market economic empowerment projects and products of PWD’s to the broader market, strengthen and enhance stakeholder collaboration.  She added that the day was also held to realise and strengthen the abilities of PWD’s.

One of the PWD’s, Mr Moilakgotla Senyega, who is wheelchair bound encouraged the gathering never to give up in life. He said it was possible to make it in life while still wheelchair bound, as government has provided amenities and programmes.

Mr Senyega, who is the managing director of his own company that specialises in car washes, gave himself as a living example of a thriving life in between disability. He said it was very possible for PWD’s to make a difference in societies they live with and still be envied by many.

“I have accepted who I am, I even work harder than those without disability, as I live my life like any other able bodied person because I know what I want and where I am going,” he said with a spark of a smile in his face.

Councillor Molaodi Mantle applauded the Lobatse Town Council Social and Community Development office for their commitment in assisting PWD’s and the positive attitude they have shown towards work.

He said gone were the days when PWD’s were hidden indoors and never exposed to the community to live normal lives and thanked government for putting that to an end.

Cllr Mantle said positive works of PWD’s in contributing to the country’s developmental agenda and economic growth were visible as some of them were running successful businesses.  ENDS