Mixed feelings as Children with special needs denied right to education in Zombo

The rate at which parents are sidelining a sizable number of children with special needs from accessing education in Zombo is worrying leaders, Whisper Eye News Reports. #UgandaNews #WhisperEyeNews #News

During a one-day training on Disability awareness and inclusion organised by Cordaid, A non-governmental organization at Zombo District Headquarters recently, The LCV chairperson of Zombo James Oruna Oyullu without divulging more details notes that,  many children with Disabilities in Zombo are not learning courtesy of parents’ negligence.

He called upon the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda ( NUDIPU), to join hands in sensitizing the community about the vice, which he believes is a deep-seated practice amongst parents in the area.

” The problem we have is parents are neglecting children with disability, instead they are concentrating on taking other children to school not knowing that these children can also perform well and become better persons in society” 

He added that “am appealing to the team from NUDIPU to put more emphasis on sensitizing the community”.

The district male councillor for PWDs in Zombo Geoffrey Aliana Oryem has equally Expressed concerns saying parents are denying opportunities for the children thus the need for awareness.

Oyenyboth Gloria, The Zombo District female youth councillor for PWDs blames some parents for hiding children with special needs at home.

” It’s a common practice that needs all of us to address, the challenge is parents are hiding these children, some of them want these children not to be known by us leaders”.She said.

Statistics of children with special needs are unclear in Zombo, But the District Education Officer of Zombo Nickolas Odeba during the passing of the Zombo education ordinance bill 2023 on Wednesday last week said, “Many of these children who are not accessing education are scattered in the community”.

Only 5 per cent of children with disabilities can access education through Inclusive Schools and 10% through special schools according to a recent study by UNICEF.

Denis Odwar of the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda NUDIPU has rallied all stakeholders to get involved in a spirited fight against the vice.

” We must value education for learners with disabilities, all our stakeholders in the district of Zombo should get concerned, No child with a disability should be left at home and I think it would be best if the District Council pass a bye-law against this ” Odwar told the Whisper Eye News.

Last week, Zombo District Local Government passed an Education Ordinance bill 2023 into an act which awaits approval by the office of the Attorney General. The Ordinance entails a raft of measures aimed at addressing factors impeding education standards from the grassroots level.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Zombo Grace Atim noted that ” I think we have learnt that, still a lot needs to be done “.

About 16% of Ugandan children have a disability, this suggests that most children with disabilities are not able to attend school and that learners with special needs fail to transition from one educational level to another according to UNICEF.