The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education, Prof. George Magoha has said that the government will train more teachers to cater for learners with disabilities.
He said that there is a large number of learners with special education needs that needed teachers with special skills to teach them.
The CS made the remarks Wednesday after making an extensive tour of teaching and learning facilities at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), in Kasarani, Nairobi.
He said besides training teachers in special education, KISE conducts assessment of the nature and severity of disabilities, and based on the diagnosis, accordingly recommends the placement of learners in appropriate schools across the country depending on the nature and severity of the disability.
The CS who was flanked by KISE council member Dr. John Mugo and Director KISE Mr. Timothy Wambua, and the Director for Special Education in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Fred Haga said the institution has trained over 29,000 teachers, and 17,000 are in schools catering for learners with varying disabilities.
Prof. Magoha advised Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates against being lured into cheating in examinations by unscrupulous people.
“I caution parents not be duped into giving out money on the promise that their children will be assisted to access examinations before due time,” warned Magoha.
“Revise the syllabus and not past paper examinations,” Prof. Magoha advised, saying that examinations were ready and security around it is tight.
He reiterated that schools which did not meet safety standards should be shut down to protect the safety of children.
“Any one storey structure that does not meet safety standards should be shut down,” Prof. Magoha said.
He, however, said that those who rebuild their schools to acceptable standards will be allowed to reopen but after thorough inspection by appropriate authorities.
The CS said that the government will provide the necessary amenities to the standard eight pupils who were affected in the Precious Talent School tragedy in Dagoretti who were transferred to Ngong Forest Primary School.
“We have provided the candidates with transport to and from school, shoes, books, uniform, food and anything else they will need as they undertake their examinations,” said the CS.
Regarding the national examinations, the CS said the ministry is ready to administer the examinations, adding that they have a strategy in place to nab cheaters and conmen selling counterfeit examination papers.
By Charles Kirundi
