15 Aug 2019

Department of Special Support Services (DSSS) at the Ministry of Basic Education has embarked on a countrywide initiative to raise awareness on special education.

The campaign seeks to, among others, raise awareness by sensitising the public on educational services and programmes available for children with disabilities and to solicit feedback or ideas from stakeholders on how to improve service delivery of the cohort of learners.

It is also a platform to showcase and demonstrate on equipment and devices available in the market for the education and rehabilitation of learners with disabilities.

Speaking at one of the events in Seronga on Tuesday, Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone commended the DSSS for the initiative.

He said it was a wise move by the department to visit remote areas such as Seronga because they received limited services, some of which seldom reached rural areas.

Mr Arone, who is also Okavango MP said education was free for all, hence children with disabilities had the right to education just like other children.

He noted that although it seemed not enough, efforts were being made by government through introduction of policies that specifically addressed issues and challenges faced by such people and also policies that would seek to recognise and respect the rights of people living with disabilities.

Mr Arone therefore, encouraged service providers in rural areas to apply the affirmative action policy in favour of people living with disabilities whenever they needed assistance in any service.

The minister also commended non-governmental organisations such as Autism Botswana for having volunteered to take care of children living with disabilities, adding that such was not an easy thing to do.

Department of Special Support Services director, Ms Neo Habangano also emphasised the right of children with disabilities to education so that they could earn a living through education just like any other people.

She encouraged parents to bring such children forward and not keep them away from the public eye.

She said special education units were meant for every child with disability, hence parents should liaise with social workers who would then collaborate with the department to see how they could be assisted to access free education.

Acting chief education officer, Ms Victoria Ramaribana said the ministry trained 15 teachers in various units of special education in South Africa, while another batch was also recently sent to specialise in hearing impairment department. ENDS