19 Jun 2024

The newly constructed Maun Centre for children with severe and multiple disabilities will open its doors September,  admitting a total of 100 learners from across the country.

The P183 million state-of-the-art facility aims to improve access to education for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities as part of government’s commitment to educating all children and aligning to national and international protocols.

Updating the North West District councillors on the status of the project, the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Development Skills, Mr Kgopotso Ramoroka said the project was handed over to the ministry in February, stating that currently, staff recruitment process was ongoing and the first group was expected next month as support staff appointment letters were being dispatched.

Additionally, he said the centre coordinator aspirants have been short-listed while the diagnostic team posts have been advertised and teachers identified.

The councillors were informed that procurement was ongoing and other services including grounds, security and cleaning would be outsourced.

The centre, he said, would admit 100 learners aged 4-18 years with severe motor disabilities and low levels of alertness of which 80 would be boarders while 20 would be day scholars.

 “As the ministry, we are grateful to all who played a key role in the accomplishment of this milestone. This facility will go a long way in enabling the ministry to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all in particular, SDG 4.5, which speaks to elimination of disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels for education for the vulnerable including persons with disabilities,” he added.

Mr Ramoroka further stated that the centre would not only benefit the Ngamiland region but the entire country, noting that priority would be given to children who have never benefited from a structured stimulation programme before.

He said most children with severe and profound intellectual and multiple disabilities were currently out of school, but catered for through home-based care programmes noting that they comprise a large proportion of the out of school children.

He acknowledged that the centre would help achieve the aspiration of Vision 2036 and government’s commitment to the delivery of quality education as well as to ensure that no child was left behind in education.

Giving the background of the project, Mr Ramoroka narrated that it was initially approved under the National Development Plan (NDP) 9 and deferred to NDP 11 due to financial constraints and was commissioned in 2020.

He said the ministry had a major challenge in enrolling the targeted cohort within its institutions stating that historically, the children were placed in South Africa and Zimbabwe through the provision of a bursary for leaners with disability.

He outlined the selection criteria for the beneficiaries, indicating that children must have been assessed by a team of professionals and diagnosed with severe to profound intellectual and multiple disability.

The house was also informed that the centre would not abolish special units in some schools but would only cater for children who could not be admitted at such special units due to their disabilities.

“All children will undergo a comprehensive holistic assessment to determine eligibility and regions will be allocated quotas to ensure equal distribution. Adverts for admission will be published openly,” he added.

The centre comprises of an administration block, conference centres, academic blocks, accommodation blocks, library, ablution blocks, dining hall and hydrotherapy blocks among others and some programmes to be offered include structured functional curriculum and prevocational programmes, rehabilitation, hydrotherapy, physical education, counselling and transition, just to mention but a few.

Mr Ramoroka revealed that the centre would benefit from collaborative efforts of his ministry and other ministries of health and local government and rural development.

 For their part, councillors appreciated the centre saying it was indeed a state-of-the-art facility, which would indeed meet the needs of children with disabilities. 

Some called for the increase in enrolment, arguing that 100 learners was low considering the high population of children with disability who have been not benefiting from any programmes.

Councillor Petrus Tjetjoo of Kareng/Sehithwa called upon the relevant authorities to embark on an extensive assessment saying some children were still hidden.

He also stressed the need to attract best minds to offer the services to ensure learners acquired skills that would help them decide on their choice of careers. Ends