Special needs children very disadvantaged in Zambia

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Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Patrick Ngoma says more than 70 percent of children with special education needs (CSEN) in Zambia are not in school for various reasons.

The honourable Minister was speaking at the official opening of the St. John of God Child Development Center on Wednesday in Monze District.

He says to fight this, the ministry has embarked on the construction of centers of excellence for children with special education needs and that it is Government’s intention to construct such centers in all the provinces of the country.

Mr Ngoma further thanked the Order of Saint John of God, with assistance from overseas donors for the tremendous effort and support in coming up with such a facility and appealed to the general populous not to hide children with disabilities as disability is not inability.

Speaking at the same event, The Group Chief Executive of St John of God Hospitallier Ministries, John Pepper says he is confident that the tripartite relationship between the Ministry, St Augustine’s Province and St John Hospital ministries will grow and flourish.

Mr Pepper adds that they will continue to support such ventures by way of giving reasonable resources and practical support.

And a mother to a disabled child, Stella Michelo, also expressed joy and happiness that they have a new child development centre in Monze District.

She appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science, vocational Training and Early Education to send more teachers to the centre and that in future, they could think of creating boarding facilities.

The administrator of the Holy Family Centre, Theresa Ghalaieny, says a lot of children need physiotherapy and this is because they have difficulties in walking and in this regard, the centre provides therapeutic, educational and social support to disabled children, by providing proper tools, depending on their needs.

Radio Chikuni News

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