28 Jun 2018

The northern regional office of the Ministry of Basic Education in Francistown has launched a Special Education awareness campaign that is aimed at sensitising the public on educational services and programmes available for learners living with disabilities.

Official opening the awareness campaign, the Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe said the campaign would be a platform to solicit ideas from key stakeholders on how the ministry can improve the provision of services for learners with disabilities.

He also said they would be lobbying for partnerships with stakeholders in the provision of services for learners living with disabilities, particularly those with complex disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, the deaf and blind as well as others suffering from multiple disabilities as they need high care and support all the time.

Mr Kwerepe noted that the awareness would provide a platform where learners living with disabilities, together with interested parties, can come together and dialogue on issues of concern such as their welfare, education and disability mainstreaming.

Furthermore, he noted that the campaign would serve to self-assess the ministry and evaluate their achievements in terms of creating awareness around issues of disability, which would be a key to successful inclusion of learners living with disabilities into the mainstream.

He urged stakeholders to recognise people living with disabilities like everyone else who had different identities, wishes and hopes for a full life.

Mr Kwerepe further noted that achievements have made it possible to address access and equity in education for all learners, adding that so far, 47 special education facilities have been established for learners with disabilities, while 40 have been established for leaners with intellectual disabilities, which catered for 1 705 children.

He added that there were also seven facilities for learners with hearing impairment, which were currently assisting 280 children.

Assistant Minister Kwerepe said there were special resources classes within schools catering for special education needs learners with vision impairment and hearing impairments.

He also shared that his ministry had also introduced annual grants to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that offer special education to learners with disabilities, noting that so far 11 NGOs were benefiting from the scheme at a total cost of P34 million annually.

Mr Kwerepe commended the Department of Special Support Services in the ministry for the initiative to raise awareness on issues of disabilities in the region and implored them to extend the campaign to all parts of Botswana.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Francistown deputy mayor, Councillor Godisang Radisigo said the campaign was a step in the right direction, citing that learners living with disabilities were left behind even though they were part of the 21st century.

Furthermore, he said people living with disabilities should enjoy quality and equal services as everyone in the country. ENDS