Union seeks more attention for schools with special needs

BY KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Union of Special Needs Education (Kusnet) wants the Government to expand infrastructure in schools that cater for children with special needs.

Union’s secretary General James Torome said yesterday since independence learning institutions that cater for children with special needs have been neglected inconveniencing access to education.

“The special schools we have in the country are not enough for the growing population of the disabled who need education. The Government should expand the physical infrastructure and post enough teachers,” said Torome.

Torome who welcomed the recent decision by Education Ministry to elevate more special schools to the national status, said there was need to ensure more challenged children access basic and higher education.

The union welcomed the decision to admit 800 students with special needs to national schools during the just concluded form one selection.

The official said head teachers in all schools in the country should submit report to the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec)) of the details of candidates with special needs early to avoid late disbursement of examination materials for them this year.

“We don’t want them to be inconvenienced like last year and years before. Head teachers should send the report on pupils with disabilities early to give the examination body enough time to set their exams and to avoid late disbursement of materials,” added Torome.

He said candidates who have no hands and limbs should undergo oral examinations, adding that candidates with learning and emotional difficulties should also be given moderate tests.

“The examination council should be flexible and adopt new methods of testing candidates with disabilities. For them to access higher education and to be able to compete with the advantaged ones in the job market, different sets of examinations should be availed to them,” he said.

Torome asked financial institutions, Non-Government Organizations, (NGOs) and corporate bodies to assist the union meet its financial and public obligations through donation of money and materials.