Provision of special education will help reduce destitution – Hanyanga

Provision of special education will help reduce destitution – Hanyanga
By Charles Mangwato in Choma
Mon 11 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

SAINT Mulumba School for the Handicapped deputy head teacher John Hanyanga has said provision of special education to disabled children will ultimately help reduce destitution and street begging among disabled people. Hanyanga said disabled children could become useful and productive citizens once provided with education that would enable them to become self-sustaining.

He said the aim of special education was to reduce the number of handicapped people solely dependent on begging for their survival by ensuring that they become productive and useful people.


Hanyanga was speaking in Choma yesterday when a local NGO known as 'My Home Town' donated a Braille machine and accessories valued at K 40 million to the institution.

Hanyanga regretted that most of the books donated to the institution were not appropriate for blind children as they were printed in ink, which could not be read by those without sight.

He said the Braille machine was a valuable tool in special education as it enabled the institution to produce learning materials that can be understood by the blind people.

"It has been difficult to teach the blind children because most of the teaching material is ink printed and not in Braille," said Hanyanga.

Hanyanga thanked 'My Home Town' for recognising the need to provide a Braille machine which was indispensable in schools offering special education.

He said the donated equipment would enhance the provision of quality education to the blind children and ultimately improve on the academic performance of the entire school.

"With this equipment, we expect improved Grade 7 examination results," he said.

And 'My Home Town' patron Alfred Masupha said the Braille machine was sourced from Sweden after the NGO identified the need for the equipment at the institution.

Masupha said the organisation continued helping institutions address deficiencies in the provision of education to the community.