The Ministry of Education wishes to make the Kenya Institute of Special Education, KISE, a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency.
The Ministry made the recommendations in the memorandum submitted on behalf of the Presidential Working Party to Education Reform, which was tasked with reviewing the Competency Based Curriculum.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Julius Jwan, said the facility which is one of the best funded by the government and equipped with expensive devices, if upgraded, will open regional branches across the country, thereby bringing services closer to the people.
“The government has already released money for purchasing specialized equipment for the institute,” said the PS while assuring of the government’s continued support on the work done at the facility.
Jwan stated that special needs learners must be handled with care and that schools have been instructed to set up structures so they can accommodate them.
“The Ministry has conducted assessments on what learners need. We have been providing capitation for every learner of which those with special needs receive more than those in regular schools,” he added.
The 4th of July was the time that the PS spoke.Th KISE Conference: Parental Empowerment and Engagement held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) at Kasarani, in Nairobi where he represented the Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu.
The two-day event, the first to be held in Kenya themed ‘Parental Empowerment and Engagement in Nurturing Potential Children with Disabilities’ had drawn participants from Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Somalia and the United Kingdom.
The conference’s objective is to give parents a chance to speak on how they take care of the children day and night so that experts can encourage them on how to take care of them.
Ms. Sylvia Mochabo (Founder of Andy Speaks 4 Specific Persons Africa) spoke at the event. She said that parents of autistic children are supportive of the Competency Based Curriculum because it offers opportunities for them to discover their own abilities.
She noted, however, that children with disabilities must be able to take advantage of policies, development projects, and health care. However, the government must ensure that there is a synergy between the Ministries of Education and Health in order for them to benefit from the policies, programs, and education.
Mochabo said the government should look at solutions that will benefit special needs parents who support their disabled children as caregivers, noting that the current regulations require that the beneficiaries be the affected children, yet some are confined in wheelchairs, while others have autism and are blind among other forms of disabilities.
“These children are 100 percent dependent on their parents, they might never get to enjoy the benefits, unless given to parents,” she stated.
Dr. Norman Kiogora (Director of KISE) encouraged parents of children with disabilities to enroll their children in special schools, rather than hiding them.
“Let us influence other parents to bring their children on board. Disabled people when given an opportunity can excel,” Kiogora said.
He stated that children with disabilities need some help and someone to believe and encourage them.
About 500 parents with special needs children attended this meeting to share their stories. It will encourage others to enroll their children in special needs schools.
Bernadette Khaduli
Source: kenyanews