Katima Mulilo
Although the Zambezi has no public school or specialised teachers for children living with disabilities, who continue to face barriers in school despite the introduction of inclusive education, charity organisations such as the Chesire Home provide some hope.
Chesire Home, located on the eastern outskirts of Katima Mulilo, opened its doors in 1995 and has provided accommodation and physiotherapy sessions to countless disabled children since its inception.
Vice-Chairperson of Chesire Home Clement Sezuni noted during the organisation’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday that the organisation, which provides a safe haven for the physically challenged learners in the region and beyond, has worked tirelessly to make life easier for disabled learners.
“The hostel had 17 children initially but the number grew to 30. This is the maximum that can be catered for. While children attend classes at Mulumba and Kizito, which are mainstream government schools with no special teachers of classes, the Chesire Home children enjoy physiotherapy sessions after school,” noted Sezuni.He further stated that the organisation has introduced an outreach programme to raise the plight of disabled children and offer assistance where possible.
“The Chesire Home has teamed up with the health ministry’s rehabilitation staff and education ministry’s special and inclusive education advisors. As a team we visit schools and clinics in Zambezi and Kavango regions to raise disability awareness and to identify children with disabilities. Many times children with disabilities are hidden, as if it is a shame for the parents to show them,” further stated Sezuni. Learners have also benefited from a scholarship programme under the education ministry, in addition to other assistance offered by the ministry.
“We have received great support from Fawena, a scholarship program under the education ministry. They provide scholarships to our Chesire Home residents as well as other learners from poor backgrounds at Kizito College.
Several times Fawena has also bought wheelchairs for our resident children,” Sezuni further stated.
Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs Alexia Manombe Ncube, whose speech was read on her behalf by Sylvia Chidunka, chairperson of Mainstream Foundation, another charity organisation for children with disabilities, said she hoped the full implementation of the policy on inclusive education would end any existing discrimination.
“For too long the answer to educating students with disabilities was to isolate them and deny them the same educational experiences that others were having.
Thankfully, those days are over as this is evidenced by the sector policy on inclusive education. Our hope now is for all teachers to be equipped with the necessary skills to be able to teach all children, regardless of their disabilities,” said Ncube.
Barriers in mainstream school settings such as inaccessible buildings and the lack of specially trained teachers have often put disabled children on the receiving end.