Initiative to give special needs education a boost

By CHARLES NGENO

Learners with special needs at 110 schools drawn from 13 counties are set to benefit from an initiative by the Ministry of Education and an international NGO.

The project dubbed Strengthening Citizens Participation in Governance of Education (SCPGE) is spearheaded by Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) Jitolee.

The partnership aims at strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Education to be responsive, accountable and transparent in the provision of special needs education (SNE).

According to VSO Jitolee Development Advisor Mila Corpus, the collaboration will seek to ensure that children with special needs and disabilities are supported to continue with their education within the context of Free Primary Education.

Right to education

Corpus said the project would through advocacy raise awareness on the rights of these learners and work towards policy implementation.

“We want organisations that help learners with special needs and disabilities to be integrated in the education policy and the implementation framework so that they confidently and effectively claim education rights for children with special needs,” said Corpus.

Speaking in Narok on Tuesday, Corpus said her organisation would mobilise communities to engage with schools towards strengthening accountability.

Narok North Education Assessment and Resource Centre (EARC) Coordinator Paul Kuyo said the Ministry would play an active role in tracking and reporting on the performance of children with disabilities placed in various schools in line with the Basic Education Act 2012.

“The Ministry through EARC will promote outreach programmes and provide effective links between the schools that engage in this project,” said Kuyo.

He said the project aims to increase the enrollment of children with special needs and disabilities by 20 per cent.

“We are optimistic that we shall be hearing an amplified voice of children with disabilities informing education policy and the implementation framework,” added Kuyo.