By James Kanyenda
Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has expressed optimism that the newly graduated specialist teachers will add value to the country’s education.
Speaking Saturday at Montfort Special Needs Education College during the graduation of 143 specialist teachers who have been awarded Diplomas in Special Needs education, Wirima said the skills acquired by the teachers would assist them in managing learners with diverse learning needs.
She added that government, under the leadership of Dr Lazarus Chakwera through Ministry of Education is geared to implement the Malawi 2063 agenda by producing high performing professional public service providers through different colleges and what Montfort Special Needs Education College is doing is in line with this quest.
Wirima acknowledged challenges encountered in the provision of quality special needs and inclusive education such as inadequate teachers, specialised teaching, learning and assessment resources as well as resource centres, special and vocational training schools.
She said government remains committed to seeing an increase in number of specialist teachers citing government’s sponsorship of Certificate course in Inclusive Education and Diploma in Special Needs Education at Montfort College as well as introduction of Diploma Course in Inclusive Education at Machinga Teacher Training College in 2020.
Speaking earlier, Acting Principal for Montfort Special Needs Education, Sidaya Masanjala Kalawa said they are geared to provide quality training programs in special needs and inclusive education for the betterment of learners with diverse educational needs, despite some shortfalls.
Out of the 143 graduating teachers in the program’s 4th cohort, 54 are females and 90 are males.
