Rays of Hope raising the bar in promoting inclusive education

Mchinji, March 27, Mana: Realizing that formal education is not the only way to success, Rays of Hope is urging people, especially community champions, to keep raising awareness on inclusive education so that children with disabilities are not sidelined in education development.

Through Pamodzi for Inclusive Education Project, the organisation has been able to sensitize people on the importance of inclusive education and ensure the success of education for all regardless of disability in Mchinji.

Speaking during a cross-learning activity between Mkanda Zone and Waliranji Zone, which took place in Mchinji, Pamodzi Programme Director Kamwana Muyaya said the project is making a positive progress in improving education standards for children with disabilities.

“We are gradually reaching to a point where people are now able to understand that children with disabilities also have a right to education and all its project’s work,” said Muyaya.

Muyaya further explained that the organisation has worked with different stakeholders, including government, to come up with policies that will help in pushing the inclusive education to greater heights.

In her remarks, Mchinji Disability and Elderly Desk Officer under the Social Welfare office, Sungeni Mapemba, expressed satisfaction with the project, saying it is indeed changing the narrative that people in communities have on children with disabilities.

“It is a good initiative and we have seen and received a number of positive feedback from the areas where the project is taking place and we hope that as community champions are working in their respective areas, they will be able to contact the social welfare office if they face some challenges,” explained Mapemba.

Edson Chalira, one of the community champions from Waliranji Zone, explained that since the project commenced, about 34 schools, including a nursery schools across Mchinji, have been educated on inclusive education and are now patronizing the project activities.

“This is a fundamental step on breaking barriers to education and promoting an environment of inclusivity,” said Chalira.

Concurring with Chalira, Mkanda Zone chairperson Stella Standford said the project has promoted the success of enrolment of children with disabilities in educational institutions.

“We have seen that parents are now comfortable sending children with disabilities to school. Before the project, we had about 68 children with disabilities enrolled in schools but ever since the project was initiated, we have seen the number rise to 218 and this is good development,” said Standford.

Despite the gradual progress the project is making, community champions expressed concern on the challenges they are facing which include shortage of special needs specialists and inadequate materials in schools to help children with disabilities have quality education.

The Pamodzi for Inclusive Education for South-East Africa (PIESEA) is a project that is being run by Rays of Hope, in partnership with Fount for Nation, Shule Direct and Kesho Kenya and is funded by Oxfam Denmark.

In Mchinji, the project started in 2022 and is being run in two Traditional Authorities of Mkanda and Mavwere.