Topic 1: Equal access to education for the disabled and functionally impaired

Country: Mozambique
Committee: SHCESL

School: Skyview
Name: Natalya Skiba

 

Currently, disabled and functionally impaired students take separate classes from the rest of the school population if they take them at all, and their class subjects are at a lesser degree of advancement than that of the regular school course, thus cutting them off socially and academically from the rest of the school.

 

Meaningful instruction depends on the approach of the teacher to the students and to knowledge, and how the teacher views the learning process. New technology may contribute not only to the development of cognitive learning but to the social interactions within the class, strengthening the group and making teamwork and shared responsibility for assignments a natural element of the school’s activities. Computerised teaching aids developed for students with various types of functional disability must be properly suited to the form, content, and function of the knowledge they seek to impart.

 

The efforts are directed to enabling people with functional impairments and families with children and youngsters who are functional impaired to live as normal a life as possible. They are based on the humanistic view that all people are equal. This entails an unconditional respect for the value of mankind that is not affected by the degree or nature of functional impairment.

”A society for all” is an expression that has recurred in various contexts in recent years and brings to mind concepts such as solidarity, equality, justice and fellowship. People who are functionally impaired have the same rights as others to enjoy welfare and be able to live a free and independent life with opportunity for self-fulfilment. People with functional impairment shall be included in society as a matter of course and shall have access to the aids and tools that enable participation on equal terms.

 

The Republic of Mozambique has a prevalent issue in the area of education, our literacy rates constitute 47.8% of the population, male: 63.5%, female: 32.7% (2003 est.) We have an urgent need of educational development. Not only do we need to raise the literacy rates of our ordinary citizens but also we need to practically raise from zero educational program for the disabled and functionally impaired citizens of Mozambique.

 

The Republic of Mozambique believes in a policy for the disabled people to

• achieve equality in conditions of life and full participation in society
• provide the potential for increased independence and self-determination
• provide the potential to build a dignified life together with others, and
• promote international work on the disabled front.

Our goal for people with functional impairments to be given opportunity to grow up under satisfactory, secure conditions and be able to develop on the basis of their own potential; to be given opportunity, based on their potential, for work and occupation; to be afforded opportunity to participate in cultural, recreational and exercising activities in the town. And the knowledge and experience concerning handicap issues gained by people with function impairments shall be exploited at all levels of the municipal organization.