There are few schools that are designed with the needs of children living with disabilities in Eastern Cape, and that seems to be the main reason why kids with disabilities do not get proper education and achieve their dreams.
Cikizwa Ntlali is one of the young people in the Eastern Cape who struggles to find a suitable school for her and is so eager to get an education. The eighteen-year-old Cikizwa from Mgojweni Village, Elliotdale passed grade 7 with flying colors last year because she is a bright learner and yet she is not in high school because special schools are scarce in Eastern Cape therefore she ended up repeating her last grade because she does not want to just stay at home doing nothing. Her condition requires hands-on assistance.
In a Groundup interview Cikizwa’s family mentioned that she had a medical spinal cord treatment which left her paralysed. After the treatment Cikizwa could not go to school for years because she is using a wheelchair. The closest special school from Elliotdale is in East London and that costs almost R800 for transport per day and going there is more than four hours.
Traditional leader Nosintu Gwebindlala helped Cikizwa to attend assessments with the Department of Education’s specialists in Elliotdale so that she can be on the waiting list of special school. After completing the assessments Cikizwa thought by August she would be placed in a special school but she is still waiting.
The spokesperson for the Department of Education in Eastern Cape Malibongwe Mtima said,
I cannot comment on this matter however, we will take it into consideration.
Mr Mtima added that as the department they will keep the promise to assist all leaners with living disabilities, which was made by Minister of Education in Eastern Cape Fundile Gade. He also mentioned that they will visit the Amathole District where Cikizwa is residing in before the end of October.
Mr Mtima explained that the shortage of specialists at district level make things difficult for the department to deal with the backlog of cases and to gather information as to know how many learners have disabilities in the rural areas of Eastern Cape. He also said the department is moving away from special needs schools and towards inclusive full service schools.
