Presented at ISEC 2000
Issues About Disabled and Education in Kenya
Dinah J. Tangui - Mobile Special Unit for Mentally Handicapped,
Kenya
Abstract
Those who are already enrolled but for a variety of reasons do not
achieve adequately:
- Progress: The government has started special schools, day/boarding,
special units, integrated programmes, small homes and vocational centres.
- Barriers: Parents can't afford school fees, not enough trained
teachers, no facilities, regular absenteeism due to distance for the children.
- Approaches: Start income generating activities for parents to pay
fees, train more teachers, build more schools, learn to improvise facilities.
Look for sponsors.
- Other Countries: We should try to emulate other countries, e.g.
twinning method in Zambia, Trebuie in Romania.
Those who are not enrolled in schools but who could participate if more
schools were available or were responsive to diversity:
- Progress: Government has been using social workers, assessment
teachers, churches, leaders to advocate for Education for All.
- Barriers: Parents use their children for odd-jobs, e.g. taking care
of their young ones, animals, etc. Due to unemployment parents have lost
interest in education. Some parents think disability is inability.
- Approaches: Guide and counsel parents and community. Take parents to
visit existing institutions, organise exhibitions for work done by disabled.
- Other Countries: We should learn to change attitudes like the
Afghanistan. It will be good to read their articles.
People with more severe impairments who have a need for some form of
additional support.
- Progress: Home based programmes have been organised. A few people
benefit. Few parents have been trained on how to make adaptive aids. Social
workers visit parents at their homes, physiotherapists visit parents.
- Barriers: Most parents hide their children, poor parents can't hire
physiotherapists, some haven't attended any training, other parents
over-protect their children, other have superstitions.
- Approaches: Guide and counsel parents. Regular visits to parents,
encourage them to form an association.
- Other Countries: I have no idea about other countries.
