KAMPALA, Uganda: Headteachers under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have urged the government to introduce a policy making special needs education a compulsory course unit in all Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs). They argue that requiring every trainee teacher to study the course as a standalone unit would significantly increase the number of qualified special needs educators available for deployment in schools.
According to the headteachers, such a policy would also push the government to establish more specialized schools across the country. This would help address the diverse needs of learners with disabilities and ensure their constitutional right to inclusive education is fully realized.
The appeal follows a recent meeting between State Minister for Education, Dr. Joyce Moruku Kaducu, and KCCA education officials at Nakasero Primary School. The meeting brought together over 60 headteachers from public primary schools, who discussed issues including pupil feeding programs, classroom performance, and other challenges affecting the education sector.
Prossie Wanyana, deputy headteacher of Mulago School for the Deaf in Kawempe Division, highlighted the shortage of trained special needs teachers as a major challenge. She noted that the limited number of specialized educators negatively affects learning outcomes for pupils with disabilities.
Wanyana explained that schools are handling many learners with varying disabilities, yet lack adequately trained teachers to meet these diverse needs. She emphasized the need for a government policy that compels all PTC students to undertake special needs education as a mandatory course.
She further called for improvements in infrastructure at special needs schools to align with the government’s inclusive education policy. According to her, better facilities would enhance learners’ ability to access quality education and secure a brighter future.
Additionally, Wanyana urged the government to adopt inclusive strategies across all training institutions, ensuring that teachers are equipped with skills to handle different categories of learners with disabilities.
She also stressed the importance of early identification of children with disabilities, noting that timely interventions would strengthen inclusive education efforts and ensure no child is left behind.
Wanyana further commended the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, for her leadership in improving inclusive education standards, while appealing for increased support to special needs education programs.
