28 Nov 2019

It is obligatory to empower people living with disabilities with skills and competencies relevant to the needs of the industry, says University of Botswana academic on Orientation and Mobility, Mr Titus Kebuileng.

He said this at Camphill Community Trust’s Motse wa Badiri graduation ceremony on Wednesday, further adding that empowering people with disabilities would enable them to fully participate in the socio-economic spectrum.

He commended Motse wa Badiri, which offers vocational education and training to individuals with learning, intellectual and physical disabilities as well as those who need specialised teaching and support through their training. T

The school offers a friendly educational setup, literacy, vocational horticulture and opportunities for personal growth and leadership development, said Mr Kebuileng.

“This graduation ceremony today is symbolic of the strategic contribution that disability education sub-sector as spearheaded by non-governmental organisations can do and is indeed making it in building the human resource capital in Botswana and the wider global village,” he said.

He added that the country was on a transformational path to diversify the economy from being mineral-based to being knowledge-based.

“This notion cannot be said without inclusion of people with disabilities in our development agenda,” he said.

He however acknowledged that there were challenges in the provision of education for learners with disabilities.

Mr Kebuileng said notwithstanding such, the government’s commitment to bridging the skills gap and develop human resources was evidenced by the policy on education and training sector strategic plan, which offered multiple learning pathways.

Quality assurance officer for training programme, Mr David Moatshe said there was need to include people with disabilities in the country’s development agenda and economic spectrum.

He regretted that not enough efforts were being made to address the concerns of people with disabilities, adding that any transition and transformation in the country should be inclusive of all.

Mr Moatshe said a lot had been said about including people with disabilities in the economy, but it was moving at a slow pace.

Furthermore, he regretted that the learners graduated to join the thousands of the unemployed graduates as there was no advocacy law for people with disabilities.

He further called on the review of the country’s constitution, adding that ‘it still contains derogatory words against people with disabilities.’

The graduation comprised 21 learners who were awarded certificate of completion, while others received integrated learning for living and work foundation level I certificate. ENDS