SUNDAY April 8, at 18:30 on SABC
2:
In
Fokus:
FOR THE BROKEN- WINGED …
Nearly 300-thousand disabled South African children receive no education. Parents and teachers of disabled children who do attend school complain that special schools like the Pretoria School for the Disabled are poorly funded and understaffed.
So-called mainstream schools also complain in particular about the high pupil to teacher ratio. But, in accordance with government’s White Paper on Inclusive Education, these schools now also have to teach disabled children.
The Human Rights Commission and Disabled People SA stress that disabled children have the right to a basic education in mainstream schools in their own communities where they stand less of a chance of being discriminated against.
The Cascade Primary School in Mitchell’s Plain has been identified as such a facility that teaches disabled children as a so-called full service school. However, teachers have identified certain challenges in that disabled children have special needs and often need more attention. This adds to already existing shortage of teachers. The school does not have elevators and even pupils without disabilities find it difficult to access the playground.
According to teachers, main stream education has a number of advantages for children who are not severely disabled – but fear the attitudes of co-pupils and parents. They also feel that a lack of manpower and infrastructure can jeopardize the future of the children.
Producer Karin d’Orville and cameraman Gerhard Botes tell of an ambitious plan of the Department of Education – that could fail disabled children if not backed up by sufficient financial support and the training of enough teachers.
 GOING UP: Producer: Keith Sayster
The Department of Housing in the Eastern Cape this week suspended applications for low cost housing until it wipes out a huge housing backlog in the province. About fifty housing projects are still outstanding. In Port Elizabeth, however, Sakhasonke Village -- a private sector initiative for low cost housing -- is a unique concept that could be the answer to the development of more affordable low cost housing.
|
