It does not need to be a debate that for time without memory persons with various forms of disabilities have been subjected to various forms of social injustice.
Regrettably; despite multiple campaigns to promote the efforts against the plight of this community, the results have grown from one dismal point to another.
And this is a concern, a concern considering Malawi’s signatory status to the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
But advocates think challenges affecting this marginalized grouping present an opportunity for the nation to find solutions, according to Symon Munde – executive director for the federation of disability organizations in Malawi.
“As of now we have the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities, which is an international human rights instrument, But in terms of implementation I think it is still a very big challenge because as of now I will say that about issues of access to education by those who have a hearing impairment; Article 24 of the UNCRPD actually provides that teachers should be able to use bilingual education but you will find that most of the teachers are not doing this,” explains Munde.
Practically speaking, an ICT student with visual impairment –Sandra Chimphonda feels resource constraints are one aspect government needs to address across the vice, both workplaces and learning institutions.
“The government should be able to help persons with disability, for them to be able to achieve their goals in life.
When we go around we see that the problem is the government itself because it is not giving persons with disabilities enough resources.” says Chimphonda.
This is just some preamble, here come real issues that need addressing!
Ever thought of challenges affecting the deaf, those that need sign language interpretation?
Grace Nyirenda does not just head Karonga School for the Deaf, but a human above all; she thinks this aspect has for long been neglected and puts her community into solitude.
“The major challenge is on the side of the learners, their parents do not know sign language- so whenever they go home they feel lonely. So the government should help us teach the parents with learners with hearing impairment,” explains Nyirenda.
And the Malawi National Association of the Deaf has its version of this. Byson Chimenya – executive director for the association says his organization is filled with complaints of segregation from the deaf community including job opportunities simply for their disability status.
“The major challenge is the communication barrier whereby we have seen several deaf members failing to be employed just because someone is deaf,” says Chimenya.
And George Khaki president of the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi shares the same observation saying employers are playing hide-and-seek with the Disability Act which promotes job inclusion for persons with disabilities.
“Since the passing on of the Disability Act, we found that employers have had difficulties in trying to meet all the requirements of the Act to the extent that some employees with different handicaps do not find it easy to get jobs in the workplace,” explains Khaki.
Given such social disorder, capital analyst Lucky Mbewe feels it’s time to demand social inclusion for persons with disabilities.
“Honestly speaking as a country we have not done well in terms of social inclusion of people with various forms of physical disability, especially when we talk about meeting their needs and aspirations,” says Mbewe.
However, special needs educationist Jennifer Ngwira thinks it’s’ time to get to the basics, which must begin with the injection of sign language into the schools’ curriculum to address social exclusion across many facets.
“In Malawi, we have a lot of people who are deaf, and for them to communicate and socialize they require sign language now we have been quiet for a long time advocating for the need to have sign language introduced in the school curriculum and this is a good idea because once we introduce sign language as one of the language subjects, we will have children learning sign language from a younger age. All of us we require to learn this language so that we can socialize and communicate at any level,” explains Ngwira.
And Chimenya from the association of the deaf hints at tailor-made policies for persons with visual and hearing as a leeway to social and developmental inclusion.
“For the deaf community the major challenge is they fail to access information firsthand, so when making policies we have to make sure that we are more inclusive,” suggests Chimenya.
On the contrary, nevertheless, line ministries responsible for this society, those of social welfare and education are proud of their work towards the lifting of the status of persons with disabilities.
Fred Simwaka speaks for the ministry of social welfare.
“As the government of course we try to support people with hearing impairment. We have some schools, selected schools for the deaf. We also have so many other institutions that we work with.” says Simwaka.
And Chikondano Mussa is the principal secretary for the ministry of education.
“From the structural point of view, we have a whole directorate in inclusive education, apart from that during the development of school curricular we always ensure that we take into account the aspects of inclusive education,” explains Mussa.
Nonetheless, Ngwira has some reservations … she maintains making sign language universal becomes the genesis of social inclusivity now and for the generation to come.
“When we talk about promoting social inclusion, one of the major principles is to ensure that these issues are captured within our policies not just educational policy but any policy at any level,” argues Ngwira.
But the government through Mussa doesn’t buy this, fearing this is a minority opinion.
“I don’t know whether it can be a subject for students or it should go to teacher’s training, I can’t just tell. So panels sit during curriculum review and discuss issues then come up with positions and start working on them. We have other ways and means of getting on board what the public is demanding.” says Mussa.
All sides heard this road to social inclusivity seems a long way to walk whose walk has to start sooner than later.