Posted by IT Admin on 2024-07-19 11:32:56 |
.....as staff gets special training
Staff reporter
There is a paradigm shift in the approach
to People Living with Disabilities or to Learners with Special Needs, if we are
to speak in our context of the Higher and Tertiary Education Sector. In the
yesteryears, learners with Special needs used to be isolated to what were
classified as "special schools", "special classes" etc.
Nowadays, we talk of what has come to be known as "Inclusive
Education" . By this we mean creating a conducive environment amongst the
traditional and conventional set ups so that those with Special Needs can also
be part of, without necessarily isolating them to schools for the deaf, schools
for the blind, etc. This now calls for administrators, architects, engineers
and innovators to consider "Universal Designs" within our institutions.
These are designs which makes it possible for a learner or member of staff with
special needs to feel at home, for instance when at Kwekwe Polytechnic.
However, this can not be achieved overnight, but gradually.
In the same vein, Kwekwe Polytechnic's administration
saw it necessary to arrange a capacity building workshop aimed at equipping 15
members drawn in a representational capacity from key sections and departments
such as HR, training , registry, security,kitchen,library, etc with sign
language skills. The whole essence is to enable effective communication between
the administration,lectures and our students who rely on semiology for
communication. The workshop is running from the 15 of July 2024 to the 19th of
July 2024 at Kwekwe Polytechnic. Mr Mbaluka, an expert in Sign language from
Mukoba Teachers College is facilitating the workshop. Eng. C. Moyo, the Vice
Principal responsible for Administration and Finance officially opened the
workshop and was impressed with the progress made so far. The workshop is
addressing some physiological barriers to effective communication and this is
one other gist of inclusive education. Commenting on the sidelines of the
workshop, the College Counsellor, Mr. Gavi could not hide his joy. "I have
no hesitation to conclude that the workshop already has been a resounding
success as evidenced by members who can now sign (sing) the national anthem
using sign language, and they are doing this using skills mastered at day
number 3. All these are part of Kwekwe Polytechnic's on-going efforts to fully
embrace inclusive education. A few weeks ago, in conjunction with a Partner,
Kwekwe Polytechnic sourced a walking cane, braille machine and it's accessories
for a learner who is visually challenged. One member of staff is also receiving
training on how to use braile. The efforts continue as Kwekwe Polytechnic
embraces Inclusive Education Step by step.
Beyond the information given