School dispels myths about the mentally handicapped

By Harold Ayodo

St Peter the Rock in Mombasa is a unique school where children with disabilities learn alongside normal ones.

The head teacher Gladys Deche says integrated learning allows children with mental disabilities to upgrade to mainstream classes on achieving a certain level of competency.

Already six of 40 pupils who joined the special unit are now in a regular Standard Four class. "Most of them had mild mental disorders," Deche says. Ms Makiko Sakamoto, a volunteer teacher, says integration allows normal and those with disabilities to socialise, accept, appreciate and learn from each other.

Volunteer teacher Makiko Sakamoto and her pupils at St Peter the Rock School in Mombasa.

 "What is interesting about the mentally challenged children is that they have a natural interest in some things and can do them well with encouragement," says Sakamoto who is in Kenya through the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer program of Japan International Cooperation Agency.

"For example, one of my pupils likes music and dance so much that she often breaks into song and dance in class."

Best moments

The Tsukuba University graduate says the best moments are when her pupils learn various tasks. She says the most effective way to teach the mentally handicapped is to first become their friend. It only when you establish a relationship with them that you will be able to teach them life and literacy skills.

"How much the children learn depends on the degree of their handicap. But most understand gestures indicating anger and happiness, toilet manners and what displeases or pleases the teacher," she says.

In an ideal situation each child should get individual attention, says Sakamoto. This happens in Japan where there are more special education teachers.

Most important, however, is to keep lessons as simple as possible.