MPs want individualised syllabus, text books for special needs learners

MPs want individualised syllabus, text books for special needs learners. The National Assembly’s Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities is now requesting textbooks and curricula that are specifically designed for students with special needs.

The absence of a clear syllabus and text books to help instructors and students alike has resulted in a disorganised academic plan at special schools across the nation, according to committee head Yusuf Haji.

“Committee’s fact finding visits to special schools has established that the Ministry of Education did not factor the institutions in preparations of syllabus and supply of text books suited for children with special needs,” Haji stated.

He said the committee will suggest that while developing a curriculum for students with disabilities, personalised learning plans that are specific to each learner’s requirements should be given top priority.

According to him, among other benefits, this will create a welcoming and inclusive learning atmosphere and offer accessible teaching resources and technology.

During a fact-finding visit to the Malaba and Mukhonje special schools in the counties of Busia and Kakamega, Haji headed the committee. Similar trips were carried out by a different committee team in the counties of Nyeri and Nakuru.

While conducting a fact-finding investigation of the situation in special schools, the committee encountered numerous obstacles that impede their ability to provide students with a high-quality education.

“The challenges we encountered ranges from deplorable state of infrastructure, lack of learning equipment and teaching guides, acute shortage of teachers and lack of food,” Haji stated.

“A few school administrators informed the committee that students were going hungry and they had to take food from kind donors to eat,” Haji stated.

Yussuf Hassan, the MP for Kamkunji, stated that they would encourage the government to consider the requirements of school-age children with special needs.

“Being a person with a disability myself, I have a deeper appreciation for their needs. Like every other child, learners with special needs have a right to high-quality education,” he continued.

The Education Ministry should incorporate mechanisms for special school teachers to advance in their careers within their service plans, according to Kasipul MP Charles Were.

“Teachers shy aware from special schools because there is no structured way of promoting them,” he stated.

According to Haji, the committee has created a bill that, should it be approved, will require the government to compensate carers for students enrolled in special schools.

According to him, the committee decided that these carers had to resign from certain schools since they hadn’t paid their dues. The government must quadruple the capitation paid for each learner with special needs, according to Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana.

“Requirements for learners with special needs are many and therefore it is illogical for them to be allocated same amount of capitation with normal students,” Ikana stated.

The committee demanded that all students enrolled in special education programmes have access to health insurance. MPs want individualised syllabus, text books for special needs learners