Nokuthula Special School in Marlboro is steadily increasing its enrolment due to a surge in demand.
The government school which was once labelled a mental institution by Alex residents, is in demand as residents start to see its results. The residents used to discriminatedagainst the pupils as they did not understand the distinction between intellectual disability and mental retardation.
Deputy principal Trevor Mkhonta said admission to the school which had increased from 240 in 2010 to 324 last year, resulted from the community realising that some of the school’s graduates were getting jobs after completing school.
“We enrol pupils from three years up to 30 years, all year round,” he said. “Our curriculum provides them basic learning at foundational level in life skills, literacy and numeracy. This helps them in their vocational training which includes woodwork, bead making, weaving, cooking, food processing and gardening.”
Mkhonta said because of the pupils’ practical orientation they were better able to excel, as they have high concentration levels and were less distracted by other social demands which attracted their counterparts.
He credited his team of physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers, teachers and support staff for helping the children excel and dispel the stigma associated with them. He said many of the pupils had been employed by a car dealership as wash bay assistants and one pupil was now training as a technician, had acquired a driver’s licence and also bought his own car.
Despite the successes, Mkhonta expressed concern about the sexual abuse of some of the children at their homes. He said this was because they were unable to communicate their emotional pain. He urged residents to report any suspicion of abuse to the police or the school.
Details: Nokuthula Special School; 011 444 6443
