Government, stakeholders in inclusive education partnership

Government on Friday launched a partnership with different organisations to promote inclusive development focusing on children with disabilities. The partners include UN agencies, international and local NGOs, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector. Unicef Rwanda Representative Noala Skinner (C) signs documents of partnership deal for inclusive education as the NCC Executive Secretary, Zaina Nyiramatama (L) and State Minister in charge of Social Affairs Dr. Alivera Mukabaramba, look on. “This partnership will help the disabled children enjoy their rights to education, healthcare, employment, among others. As government, we are committed to promoting inclusive education but we cannot achieve this singlehandedly,” said the State Minister for Social Welfare, Dr Alivera Mukabaramba at the event held in Kigali. A Sign language interpreter interacts with people with visual impairment The initiative is in line with recommendations from 2012 UN convention on rights of persons with disabilities. It will chart common strategies and harmonise resources to fill the existing gaps. During the event, a visually impaired boy, Ervin Nsengiyunva, surprised many with his singing and acting skills which he showcased using his Braille (a tactile writing system for the visually impaired). The visually impaired Nsengiyunva from Kibeho Blind Institute Nyaruguru district reads a sketch during the meeting. “I was born in Gatsibo District and enrolled in the school for the blind, in Nyaruguru District, in 2012. Since then, my life has changed. I was able to discover my talent. I mastered Braille in only two weeks and my dream is to become a journalist,” Nsengiyunva said. The Nyaruguru school has more than 100 disabled children according to a nun from the school who decried the continued discrimination against the disabled by some sections of society. Children with visual impairment from Kibeho Blind Institute Nyaruguru district dance during the meeting. Nsengiyumva is one of the nearly 90,000 children between the age of five and 19 who are living with disabilities in the country, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. However, officials say most of them, especially mentally disabled children, need special schools, among other requirements. Unicef country representative Noala Skinner, said they will continue supporting inclusive education by providing learning materials and screening vulnerable students. Some of the participants during the inaugural meeting of the partnership on inclusive education.(All photos by Timothy Kisambira) “We have to create an enabling environment that attracts them to school. In Rwanda, there is a clear legal framework facilitating this. Now that we have launched a clear partnership for such programmes, we are optimistic about the future,” she said. The National Council of People with disabilities (NCPD) is now trying to categorise disabled persons in order to get statistics by June this year that will help in the implementation of inclusive education programme. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Government, stakeholders in inclusive education partnership