They are not disabled but they have special needs

This week Education Times played host and guest all in the same week. For a start a group of students from Riviera High School visited The New Times offices for a study tour. The IGSCE (Cambridge) students together with their teachers had a tour around the various sections of the newspaper asking questions and observing how the journalists go about their work. Our reporter also visited the Eastern province where he spent a day observing and talking to students who are visually impaired at Groupe Scolaire de Gahini and HVP Gitagara in Rwamagana. The trip revealed to us that actually such students are not disabled but simply have special needs. When and if such needs are met, they too can compete favourably with any other student. Referring to these people as disabled implied that they are unable yet the fact that they are in school like others already means they are capable of doing those things once their special needs are dealt with. What they need is support from all those in a position to help; but not pity. And this call goes out to the government, education supporting organisations, parents as well as society in general. Of course there are many organisations already doing so much in this field and we appreciate their efforts but more still needs to be done. The death of Chinua Achebe came as a shock even at his advanced age of 82. A great writer like Chinua Achebe whose works have in all ways defined African literature will surely be missed. What is undeniable is that his works long made him immortal and will continue to inspire many more. Our columnist Moses Mubezi takes us through what it means to read Chinua Achebe’s works and we also have a compilation of some of the best quotes by the great Nigerian author who passed away last week in Boston, USA.