Disabled urge inclusive education

IT is essential for Government through both Ministries of Education to continue working closely with disabled people’s organisations and other civil society groups in planning, implementing and evaluating inclusive education in the country.

Chairperson for Disability Rights Watch (DRW), Joseph Musanje said the effective implementation in adequate budgetary allocation and disbursements was important in order to not leave learners with disabilities out of the education system.

Mr. Musanje noted that while inclusive education focused on the full inclusion of all learners, DRW focused on the effective inclusion of learners with disabilities by seeking an inclusive system at all levels of education starting for early childhood to tertiary education.

“A quick review of the National Education Policy of 1996 should be replaced by a policy that will reflect aspirations of inclusive education and the spirits of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

“The government has already ratified and domesticated the CRPD, therefore, it should take drastic measures to ensure that it fulfills its obligations of implementing quality inclusive education in the country,” he said.

Mr. Musanje stated that it was important for government through the two Education Ministries to start with whatever resources that were available to show milestones towards achieving inclusive education.

He noted that in emphasising effective participation, government should ensure that girls with disabilities were not left out in the whole process of implementing inclusive education.

Mr. Musanje further urged the Zambian government to prioritise the education of learners with disabilities by initiating clear policies and the implementation of plans that were supported by adequate budgetary allocations.