Government Asked To Support Assessment Centers for Special Need Learners

A section of education stakeholders in the North Rift region has challenged the national government to invest in improving services being offered at all assessment centres for special needs children.

Led by Charles Kisigot who has been involved in the assessment of the centres, the stakeholders say for a long time, learning institutions hosting special needs children have been neglected.

In an interview with Uasin Gishu News, Kisigot revealed that most of the assessment centres lack basic equipment and have been starved of government funding.

He argues that there are many special needs children not yet in school because of limited institutions available in the North Rift.

“The government needs to look keenly at the special needs schools,” Kisigot said.

“They have been left unattended; they lack personnel, equipment, funding and other equipment for assessment,” he added.

More special needs children

He further revealed there are over 842 learners in special needs schools in Uasin Gishu County alone.

But Kisigot says the number could be higher with proper funding to the assessment centres and sensitization of the locals.

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He argues that some parents are still hiding from the public their children who have special needs.

“We have 842 learners in special needs schools but we still have many more than those not yet enrolled. Many more are on the waiting list to enrol for primary education,” said the assessment officer of the special needs centres.

There are numerous special needs centres across the country hosting children with different needs, from the visually impaired, physically impaired, and mentally impaired among others.

Within Eldoret town, there is the Kapsoya Special School for the Mentally Challenged as well as the Eldoret School for the Hearing Impaired.

Family Bank also supported setting up a centre for children with Autism at the Sosiani Primary School.

Article 54 of the Kenyan constitution provides that persons with disabilities be entitled to access to educational institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into society to the extent compatible with the interests of the person.

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