02 Dec 2024

Parents have been implored to join forces with teachers to keep children with special needs safer from all forms of abuse.

Sub Inspector Segopolo Lefatshe of Maun Police said some children were exposed to physical abuse as well as sexual and psychosocial violence in their homes and communities.

Giving a motivational speech during a Christmas Party for Moremi Primary School special unit learners held in Maun on Friday, he said some people took advantage of children’s disabilities and abused them sexually while some parents failed to report such incidents. The event was sponsored by Machaba Safaris to the tune of over P50 000.

Sub Insp Lefatshe warned parents that the law allowed punishment for those who failed to report child abuse.

He said government had established Gender and Child Protection Centre in Maun that would ensure professional investigation and safe-guard the rights of children in handling cases affecting them.

Sub Insp Lefatshe called on members of the community to come on board and augment government efforts towards protection of children, emphasising that children with special needs deserved love, care and support to pursue and achieve their goals.

 “Teachers are doing a wonderful job to mould learners into responsible citizens and achieve their goals but some parents are not supporting this effort. 

The status quo should change because these children are our future leaders,” he added.

Machaba Safaris chief financial officer, Mr David Kind encouraged parents to expose children with special needs to learning environments that could help them develop their skills.

Moremi school head, Ms Ngonda Setlhare said the school had an enrollment of 1042 learners, and out of this number 138 had special needs. 

She said they had four levels that the special needs learners go through to achieve a higher level of self-sufficiency and success in school and in the community.

Ms Setlhare cited stimulation level noting that learners would then transition into the second level which focused on academics where they were taught numbers, sounds and syllabus.

Then they would be assessed on third level being the main stream to start level four, pre-vocation where they learn handicraft skills.

 Ms Setlhare further noted that 11 learners had so far progressed to the main stream while some had graduated from pre-vocational and now joining the society to apply the skills acquired and pleaded with the community to support them. Ends