By Kabuye Ronald
The team leader in central region for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda, Harriet Nambejja, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff in Kampala have urged schools to embrace inclusive education for children with and without disabilities.
Speaking during the experience sharing of the inclusion school teams from the five TOFI pilot implementing schools held at St. James Primary school in Mutungo Biina, Harriet Nambejja urged schools to stop the habit of sending away children with disabilities and referring them to special needs school which only cater for children with disabilities. She says this should be done when the child is a worst condition that warrants so.
Nambejja says children with disabilities learning with those without disabilities helps them to feel loved and quickly and easily learn from one each other. “If you take a child with a disability to a special needs school, he/she can forget what they used to do for example a child who walks when he finds those crawling he might end up copying those crawling which doesn’t help the child while with the mixed schools they strive to copy and learn from those without disabilities”
It’s upon the above that Nambejja called upon schools to welcome children with disabilities. Adding that after welcoming them they must ensure that they actively participate both in class and in whatever taking place in school like co-circular activities as opposed to simply letting them grow in their schools.
Mr. Kazibwe Steven, the chairperson of parents at Mpererwe Church of Uganda Primary School applauded SHAU for coming up with the program of inclusive education in schools and communities since it has awaken the public about the potential of the children with disabilities, changed mindset towards such children and most importantly imparting the skill of handling them, love and care towards them. In addition to advancing humility in the community, teachers and fellow children which has brought about the involvement of everyone especially in schools to raise an active child with disability like others.
Miss Kwagala Ruth, a parent with a 10 year old child with Down syndrome and a resident of Kirinya, Bweyogerere in Kito village applauded SHAU for guiding and teaching her how to handle her child and other people with disabilities. She says its lesson on humility, being kind, understanding the child and being considerate to her child as immensely helped her raise her child well.
Kwagala says the aspect of inclusive education has really worked for her since her child can now recognize and differentiate people, take care of himself, know, defend and use his rights appropriately. Compete in class, exhibit and enjoy his talent especially of singing which she had never expected to get out of him. She thus concluded that if children with disabilities are supported, understood and embraced they can turn into great valuable men and women in the society.
Harriet Nambejja, said that the school inclusive education program started in 2019 and after the trainings to the communities, parents and teachers, children with disabilities who were hidden in house and kept home are now being taken to schools.
She revealed that the school inclusion teams include learners, parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, local and religious leaders who come together and identify activities of achieving and insuring inclusion in their communities and schools so that nobody is left behind.
