Inclusive primary education for children with disabilities.
To thrive, all children need access to good education. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is committed to ensuring all children have equal access to basic primary education.
Children with disabilities are the most vulnerable in our communities. They often face rejection and exclusion by people and sometimes close relatives.
In informal settlements, such children are denied access to education forcing them to stay at home.
Children with disabilities need a good education to develop their skills and realize their full potential. Yet, their lives are limited due to persistent stigma and discrimination in our communities.
Meet 15-year-old Halimo Abdulahi Omar, a Grade 5 pupil at Barh-El-Naam Primary School in Kakuma, Turkana West.
Halimo has a physical disability that affects her mobility. She relies on her wheelchair for movements and support from her friends in school.
Halimo lives in Kakuma 1 refugee camp. In a family of 12, she is not the only one with a disability.
Halimo counts herself lucky to have got an opportunity to study in one of the schools supported by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Quality Services, education program.
“I joined this school in 2016. Over time, I have learned to read and write which I could not do initially because I joined school late” she says.
Despite her physical challenges, Halimo takes her classwork seriously and hopes for a brighter future.
“I have gained a lot of skills here; my dream is to join a university and become a teacher someday,” she says with a smile as she flips a page in her book.
Bhar-el-Naam Headteacher Abigael Muchanja understands the needs of children with disabilities and the desire to feel included in the community.
Abigael and her colleagues have learned techniques to maintain the learners’ love for learning.
“We have integrated children with certain kinds of disabilities in classrooms, we aim to ensure that these children thrive to their optimum potential,” says Abigael.
Inclusive education allows all children to have a fair chance of attaining a good education. In this system of learning, all children are exposed to real learning opportunities not only for those with disabilities but also for children of minority languages.
How LWF supports inclusive education
LWF is committed to ensuring all children have equal access to basic education.
Working with PRM, we support 21 primary schools in Kakuma-Turkana West and regularly monitor the progress of inclusive education systems incorporated in the schools.
Currently, 1,590 learners with special needs have been enrolled in schools. We also provide psychosocial support and physiotherapy to learners with specific needs.
LWF equally builds the capacity of education systems by strengthening teachers’ capacity to provide quality support services to children with special education needs.
Written by Denise Akun - LWF Communications Officer
*Informed consents gained for all images with children*
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