By Rosalia Kapiri

Lilongwe, March 27, Mana: The Ministry of Education has commended CCAP Synod of Livingstonia for the commendable results shown after assessing the implementation of an inclusive education programme in some districts in the northern region through Promoting Equal Access to Education in Malawi (PEATEMA) Project.

Director for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education, Grace Milner, was speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday at Bingu International Convention Centre where she presided over the synod's conference, intended to disseminate the findings and impact of inclusive education as implemented in the northern districts of Chitipa, Karonga and Nkhata Bay.

Milner said that PEATEMA Project is in line with the education agenda of leaving no child or learner behind, which is in line with the MW2063.

Milner said: “Special needs education lies at the heart of the Ministry’s priorities. The Synod of Livingstonia has done a commendable work in ensuring that children with disabilities access quality education, and we appeal to all education partners to continue working with the Ministry in the cause of inclusive education.”

In her remarks, Deputy Director of Inclusive Education in the Ministry of Education, Lucy Magagula, highlighted that the project aimed at addressing negative attitudes towards learners with disabilities, improving access to quality and relevant education and enable children regardless of disability to reach their full potential.

“Ministry of Education recognizes the power in collaboration; as such, it does not work in isolation but through stakeholders.

“Among others, PEATEMA Project targeted children and young people with disabilities and peers without disabilities, family members, school teachers/managers, community leaders, school governance structures, as well as traditional leaders and government authorities,” explained Magagula.

Project Manager for Livingstonia Synod in the education department, Atupele Nampota, said shortage of knowledgeable teachers has been a challenge in implementing the project.

As such, according to Nampota, they worked hand in hand with Catholic University to train teachers in the special area of inclusive education since the university has a fully-fledged department of special needs programme.

One of the teachers working with the project in Chitipa, Rhoda Mnyimbiri from Kaseya Primary School, said having noted that learners with disabilities are not accommodated in the school system, they proposed changes in the school system to accommodate those with diverse challenges in learning.

A representative of a parent support group from Nkhata Bay, Walipa Phiri, said they have been working with parents in communities to encourage them to send their children to school regardless of the children’s learning challenges, adding that so far there has been great improvement in school enrolment of children with disabilities in the district.

The PEATEMA Project was implemented by the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia with support from Sense Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government.

The project implementation was done in 534 primary schools, 40 secondary schools and 40 education zones in three districts.