ADDIS ABABA– The joint efforts of all stakeholdersis desperately needed to ensure that disabled children have access to education and become productive citizens, the Addis Ababa Persons with Disabled Association urged.
Association’s President Woynshet Girma (PhD)told the Ethiopia Press Agency (EPA)all concerned bodies should collaborate to ensure access to education for disabled children.
Studies suggested that 85 percent of school-age children with disabilities are not in school. Therefore,all relevant bodies must work together to enable children with disability to go to school and nurtured to be productive citizens that assist the development of the nation, she noted.
According to her, the community’s awareness of disabled individuals’ potential for work and learning is poor, and parents often doubt their children’s future productivity upon sending them to school.
Despite legal provisions that guarantee education for all children, Woynshet noted that some schools lack the necessary resources and trained professionals to accommodate disabled students.
Even in a private school, parents want to pay and teach their children, but private schools are not willing to accept and teach. “Whether in Ethiopia’s or international laws, schools are obligated to receive and educate any child and we have to work together on this issue,” she said.
The President stressed that government schools accept as much as possible and teach by hiring professionals, but some private schools lack the commitment.
The association has designed strategy and plan, and is working to benefit the disabled persons not only in education, but also in health, social, economic, political and general participation, according to Woynshet.
“If people with disabilities don’t stand for themselves, no one will hear them, they should not give up despite the challenges, if they remain at home when someone claims they are unable to, then they are staying back, this shouldn’t happen. They have rights given by the government and international laws so that they should stand up for their rights,” Woynshet said.
She pointed out that the disabled must not give up and work hard so that they can succeed and serve the country.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2024
