Invest in learners with special needs

A section of some school heads have raised concern over the rate at which children with Special Needs are dropping out of school. Inadequate teachers of sign language, lack of braille machines and accommodation for those coming from far places, according to the school heads, have been the main contributors to children with Special Needs dropping out.
As we reported yesterday, the head teacher of Kyomya Primary School in Busedde Sub-county, Jinja District, Ms Vicencia Musubika, said 40 of her learners have not reported to school this year. The school only has two Special Needs teachers against a total population of 230 pupils.
Last year, the school had 237 Special Needs pupils but the number has reduced to only 197.
This drop should worry us all since Kyomya Primary School is among the few schools in the country which have sign language teachers or interpreters.
According to the 2014 National Housing and Population Census, People with Disabilities (PWDs) comprise 5.6 million people (14.82 per cent) of Uganda’s total population of 37.78 million people. This is a big segment that government should be investing in and that investment should be in education.
Here is why. Education will give the PWDs skills for life sustenance, they will have an opportunity to interact freely in society and compete for jobs and other opportunities fairly. This can greatly change the perception of how society views people with disabilities.
Staying in school longer also enables these learners to utilise their youthful energy to build themselves and their future.
Investing in these young learners through availing competent teachers and machines they need to work with, is an obligation that government should take seriously.
Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs declares: ‘’States Parties recognise the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realising this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels . . .’’
It further states: ‘’States Parties should ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from secondary education, on the basis of disability.’’
By failing to avail essentials to keep this vulnerable group in school, government is running away from responsibility. Government should listen to these concerns and support learners with Special Needs to ensure we build an inclusive society.