WINDHOEK – Despite the lack of adequate facilities and proper infrastructure to cater effectively for learners with physical disabilities at the Martti Ahtisaari Primary School in Wanaheda, the school still welcomes all physically challenged children.
“The school is not equipped for such (children with physical disabilities) learners. There is no aggressive interest from the Ministry of Education to make sure that these learners are catered for,” said Hermanus Böck the Principal of the Martti Ahtisaari Primary School in an interview with New Era yesterday. He explained that although the school does not have the necessary facilities in and outside the classrooms to cater for learners with disabilities those learners perform well academically under the circumstances. Böck said the school believes in the principle of ‘inclusive education’. This means that the school does not discriminate when parents whose children live with physical disabilities register them attend primary school. “If parents who are living in the surrounding areas enroll their children with physical disabilities at the school, we don’t refuse them,” said Böck. According to him the school leadership with the help of the school counsellor assesses the children to confirm if they can cope in the school environment. “We explain to the parents the challenges the children are most likely to encounter and we ask for their full support. We don’t know what needs to be in place for these kids and we fear neglecting them,” Böck added. Yesterday, New Era spoke to three learners with physical disabilities at the school. According to them, their classmates and schoolmates treat them like any other learners at the school. “I work well with my classmates. If I want a rubber to erase something in my book they help me,” said a free spirited Grade 1 learner, Junior Penodiwo, who was accompanied by his mother, Evister Shigwedha. He was born without a right arm, his mother explained.
“I want to become a police officer so that I can catch people who are stealing money,” he replied when asked what career he aspires to follow when he completes school. “I want to become a pilot so that I can explore the world,” said Grade 2 learner Saimi Shilunga, who walks on artificial legs.
Wheelchair-bound Selma Niilenga said she aspires to become a medical doctor when she grows up. A teacher at the school, Aina Mathews, who shared her experience in teaching learners with physical disabilities explained that such learners perform just as well academically as their peers. “It’s only in physical education classes where they cannot run and jump like the others, but otherwise they are normal children. They can go to the toilet all by themselves,” Mathews said.
Shigwedha and another parent Kaarina Shikalepo said they took their children living with disabilities to the school because it is the nearest one to where they live. They are both in agreement that children should not be deprived of their right to education simply because they are disabled. “To hide a child living with a disability is like hiding a gift from God. You cannot hide the child, because it is God who gave that child to you,” added Shigwedha.
“Parents must take their children to school and they must be free to go with them to church and town just like they do with any other child,” Shikalepo chipped in.
Martti Ahtisaari Primary School is a government school and was established in 1990. It is home to 1409 learners and was named after former Finnish president, Martti Ahtisaari, who played an instrumental role in Namibia attaining its independence. Government schools in the country closed today and will resume on September 03.
Story by Alvine Kapitako