Special Needs Children to Receive Comprehensive Medical Care
The Ministry of Education has taken significant steps to ensure that children with special needs and disabilities are included in the Universal Health Care program, set to be launched by President Dr. William Ruto during Mashujaa Day.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced that the Universal Health Care program will offer students access to crucial therapy and rehabilitation services, ultimately reducing the impact of their special needs and disabilities. This move is expected to encourage out-of-school children with special needs and disabilities to enroll and benefit from the program.
During the 29th commencement ceremony of the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), where 664 diplomas in special needs education and 207 certificates were awarded, CS Machogu highlighted the importance of parental influence on children’s growth and education.
He disclosed the institute’s plans to establish a Parental Empowerment Center and assured continued support from the Ministry of Education for its completion. This center will enhance parents’ ability to develop individualized education programs and life skills for learners with special needs and disabilities.
CS Machogu stressed that the Diploma in Special Needs Education should align with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and urged the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to expedite the completion of this curriculum and the long-delayed Diploma in Sign Language Interpretation.
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The government’s commitment to learners with special needs and disabilities was reiterated by Machogu, with a focus on providing appropriate assistive devices, technologies, and specialized learning materials. He announced the centralization of the distribution of these devices through the Kenya Institute of Special Education, with the first batch worth Sh87 million benefiting 101 schools catering to visually impaired and hearing-impaired students. Further distributions to support physical disabilities and intellectual impairments will follow.
Recognizing the need for ongoing maintenance of assistive devices and technologies, CS Machogu emphasized the Ministry’s plan to address this gap by designating KISE to provide servicing to special institutions and inclusive programs nationwide, ensuring prolonged access for students with special needs.
To promote local production of assistive technology and learning materials, the government has granted 30 acres of land in Machakos County to KISE to establish a Major Production Unit. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports and enhance access to essential resources for students with special needs and disabilities.
Special Needs Children to Receive Comprehensive Medical Care
