Ministry drums up support for special needs learners

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology chief education officer for inclusive education Peter Nsendema has called on organisations and individuals to support learners with special needs.

He was speaking on Thursday in Mponela, Dowa when Ana Onse Mpata Umodzi (Aomu) donated three wheel chairs to three special needs learners at Mponela 2 Primary School.

Said Nsendema: “The number of children with physical disabilities is enormous which calls for a bigger budget but the gadgets are expensive for government to afford.

“We call on well-wishers to come on board to support government because currently we have over 173 000 learners with such conditions in primary schools alone”.

Aomu chairperson Mtisunge Mipando said they believe each child should be given equal opportunities.

“Our main focus is on helping the learning process not the infrastructure, whatever we mobilise, we will support special needs teachers and learners to ensure equal access to education,” he said.

Efrida Chinyanga, a mother to one of the beneficiaries, praised Aomu for the donation  saying its a relief to her as she is growing.

Aomu executive director Thandiwe Chirwa-Revill, who is based in the United Kingdom, said in a written statement that the funds were raisedthrough a crowd-funding initiative.