Parents ashamed to send disabled children to school - Dokora

Education minister Lazarus Dokora has called on parents to send children with disabilities to school saying he had realised that most did not as they were ashamed of their off spring.

"There are 33 schools that enroll the disabled, blind and deaf this inclusive education. In our ministry, we are upgrading the teachers' knowledge to enable them to work within resource units at each school and clusters within districts," said Dokora.

"After this, a teacher who has disabled students will be able to have specialist support in teaching."

Dokora said most people look down upon the disabled.

"I urge them to send disabled children to school. In many areas, I have witnessed that these disabled children are not sent to school because they are ashamed or they think that these children are not helpful," he said.

Dokora called on legislators to assist by encouraging their constituents to send disabled children to school.

"They should encourage parents to send these children to school. Lastly, as a Ministry, we said that we enrol children who are four years old to go to infant school," he said.

"Children will be coming from their homes going to school but if we enrol these; we need to upgrade ECD centres so that they are conducive for the disabled children. I would like to say that upgrading structures in schools is an ongoing programme."