Fulfilling every child’s right to education through Resource Centres
Resource Centres play a key role to facilitate inclusive quality education for children with disabilities to reach their full potential
Atse Zereyakob primary School in Debre Birhan, Amhara region, is a resource centre for inclusive education with over 600 students. Classes accommodate children with and without disabilities, including children who are deaf, blind, and with intellectual disabilities.
“Children with disabilities are members of our community. The teachers in the school are very devoted to inclusion. They produce learning materials like tactile world maps, shapes, and mathematical operations using local materials in the resource centre,” said Ketema Kitaw, the school director of Atse Zereyakob Primary School.
“I don’t like mediocre.
I believe that whatever you do, be the best.”
Weldiye grew up in Chacha, a rural area outside of Debre Birhan. He used to help his family with farming. When he had to come to Debre Birhan for medical services, he met friends who encouraged him to go to school. His family was not supportive because that would mean they lose a helping hand. Weldiye took the decision to pursue his education. He moved to Debre Birhan alone. Carpentry and mending shoes earn him some money to cover his living expenses. He walks 40 minutes to school using his white cane. He is now in grade 7. “It is easier to move around as a blind person in Debre Birhan than in Chacha. Back home, I always needed assistance but here I can get by alone.”
Teachers are very supportive. He only wishes he had more books to read. Last year, he did not read anything because there were no books in Braille: “God willing, I want to be a lawyer. There are so many gaps in the legal system. For example, in the courts, persons who are illiterate are not treated the same way as those who are educated. I want to make equality before the law a reality for all.”
Challenges remain with capacity. The itinerant teachers’ role is to support teachers in Atse Zereyakob Elementary School as well as three additional schools (named satellite schools). In the school, there are only 8 of 51 teachers trained in special education.
UNICEF in Ethiopia is advocating for increased capacity in the education system to ensure children with disabilities not only have access to education but are also receiving quality inclusive education.
