Kisumu county govt set to give free education to children with special needs
Kisumu County Assembly nominated MCA Farida Salim. The assembly has passed a bill aimed at improving the education welfare of disabled students. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
According to the Kisumu County Disability Bill 2016, students with special needs enrolled in youth polytechnics will also benefit from the free education.
The Bill further provides for the establishment of special schools for the disabled in the area.
The Kisumu County Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill allowing the local government to provide free education for disabled children at Early Childhood Development centres in the region.
According to the 2016 Kisumu County Disability Bill, students with special needs enrolled in youth polytechnics will also benefit from the free education. The bill further provides for the establishment of special schools for the disabled in the area.
Nominated MCA Farida Salim said the group was suffering at mainstream schools, which she said lack proper facilities for disabled students.
“Persons with disabilities get little attention in the [mainstream] schools and many cannot access basic amenities such as toilets,” said Mrs Salim.
She advised the county government to ensure it builds model centres that are friendly to the group.
Parents or guardians of disabled children are now required to enrol them in the schools or risk facing legal action.
“A parent, guardian or custodian who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months,” said nominated MCA Caroline Agwanda, who tabled the bill in the House.
“Civic education should be introduced on disability issues in healthcare programmes and further promote the use of sign language,” she added.
