Inclusivity: Equitable education for all
Inclusion is having a voice at the table and those voices being heard by making our intentions clear to speak louder.That was the message of Alexia Manombe-Ncube, deputy minister for disability affairs during a panel discussion on inclusivity in the education sector for children with disabilities that was hosted by the GiZ.
“Globally, people with disabilities do not have equal access to opportunities and resources. In Namibia we became better but we still have a long way to go,” she said.
According to her, looking at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Sustainable Development Goal four, one gains a clearer picture of what an inclusive education system at all levels should entail.
“Dagbreek has identified the skills that learners would need to survive in the world out there. This can be seen in the number of projects the school runs, including the multipurpose centre and the aquaponics,” she says, adding that she can see environmentally friendly methods being taught at the school.
Manombe-Ncube emphasised that all stakeholders fighting for children and people with disabilities should seeks and translate the theory that we see on paper into practice.
For the teachers at Dagbreek, job attachments are extremely important for learners from 18 years until they leave at 21, since then all learners leave ready for the job market and ready to contribute to society.
During the panel discussion, Agnes Hausiku, a wheelchair user, shared her experience during her studies. “Accessing classrooms were a problem at some point and sometimes the elevator was out of order, but we always spoke up about the challenges we face. We let our voices be heard, for change,” she said.