HakiElimu, in collaboration with AMUCTA College in Tabora, has initiated training under the Strengthening Accountability for Inclusive Education project. The training targets 20 teachers and 6 Education Officers from the Kilosa, Mpwapwa, and Korogwe districts. The aim of the training is to equip teachers with the skills for identification and assessment of children with disabilities, as well as strengthen teachers teaching skills to handle inclusive education classrooms.
During the opening of this training, HakiElimu's Executive Director, Dr. John Kalage, stated that HakiElimu, through the Strengthening Accountability on Inclusive Education project funded by CBM (Christoffel-Blindenmission), is fully committed to empowering teachers to identify and teach students according to their needs. He also thanked the teachers and Education Officers for attending this training.
While opening the training, Upendo Rweyemamu, the Tabora Regional Education Officer, highlighted the efforts being undertaken by the government to facilitate the implementation of the National Strategy for Inclusive Education 2022-2026. These efforts include the construction of enabling infrastructure in schools in various parts of the country, as well as the preparation of special teacher to implement the strategy. This has led to an increase in the enrollment of children with special needs in various schools.
Rweyemamu stated, "The number of children who were previously hidden has now decreased, and as a result, we have seen a significant increase in the enrollment of children with special needs in schools."
Despite these achievements, the Regional Education Officer also identified several challenges. He noted that not all teachers have the skills to teach children with special needs, nor do they all have the ability or expertise to identify students or children with special needs. Therefore, he expressed his gratitude to HakiElimu for organizing the training.
She added that through this training, teachers and DEOs will understand what Inclusive Education means and how they can support identification and assessment of children with special needs and manage an inclusive class.