Educational initiative empowers people living with disabilities.
The Education department is committed to provide educational opportunities in particular for those learners who experience barriers to learning and development.
NELSPRUIT – With a positive attitude, a physical disability should not hinder one’s ability to achieve their dreams.
This was emphasized by Ms Thandeka Nkosi, one of the 50 disabled computer learners during their certificates awarding ceremony last Wednesday at M& M Computer Academy.
The handing over of the certificates comes after the education department, together with Disability People South Africa (DPSA) gave the disabled individuals from around the province an opportunity to acquire computer skills.
Speaking on behalf of the education department, Ms Nelly Lekgau, Inclusive Education Coordinator, said that the department is committed to provide educational opportunities in particular for those learners who experience barriers to learning and development.
“Learners who dropped out of school because of the inability of the education and training system to accommodate their needs have been receiving assistance through this programme since last year,” said Lekgau.
She added that the province has a few special schools to accommodate all learners who are skill orientated in their learning.
“We had to come up with strategies to assist those learners in the communities to ensure that they are trained to acquire computer skills so that they can further their studies in that regard,” she added.
Speaking for the learners, Nkosi expressed gratitude to the department and M&M saying that they have given all the learners a chance to prove that they are able to do something for themselves and not only depend on grants.
“This programme has taught us to believe in ourselves and from here, with our certificates, we are going to go out there and look for work and show the world that we are able,” she concluded.
