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By Marlvin Ngiza
Learners with disabilities at Manjokota Primary School have been relieved following the establishment of toilets with ramps at the institution.
Speaking to Spiked Online Media, Buhera Residents Network Trust Coordinator Leonard Mabasa applauded the authorities for such development citing that it will go a long way in making life easier for learners with disabilities.
Mabasa also highlighted that the development will lead to an increase in enrollment of learners with disabilities at the school.
“As a Trust,we are impressed with such a dynamic leadership style of being sensitive to the needs of the marginalized groups of people who sometimes suffer discrimination and stigma in the society.
“Great salutations to the School Development Committee,parents and Non Governmental Organizations that support education.
“Before this development,learners faced challenges in responding to the calls of nature as they needed to be assisted by a close friend to visit the toilet and in worse scenarios,parents would not release their disabled children to school.
“So there is a possibility of an increase in enrollment of learners with disabilities in the coming years,” said Mabasa.
He further stressed the need for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to realign labour with skills through the utilization of teachers with Special Needs Education in order to accommodate learners with disabilities.
“Learners with disabilities especially those with hearing impairment fail to understand the delivery of lessons.
“In schools there is a limited number of teachers with Special Needs Education. There is under-utilization of such personnel in schools hence the realignment of labour with skills,knowledge and attitude is necessary and needs to be expedited.”
Meanwhile, Mabasa challenged learners in schools and all citizens to desist from discrimination and stigmatization of learners with disabilities.
“Learners with disabilities face discrimination and stigma.In rural areas there are misconceptions that if you hang around with a disabled person,you might also bear a disabled child,thus a notion that needs education ,applying holistic approach and having a humanitarian heart and mind,” Mabasa underscored.
Some schools that have already improvised their infrastructure to cater for learners with disabilities in Buhera include Zvomoyo Primary School and Murambinda A Primary School.
