A principal in Morobe says respective authorities in-charge of people living with disabilities (PLWDs) should be checking and identifying schools that can cater for people with special needs.
Bugandi Secondary School principal Dennis Miall said people with special needs had rights like normal people, but they had to be treated with respect and care.
Miall said it was the responsibility of departments and organizations involved with people with special needs to secure and direct the path for them.
The authorities in-charge of PLWDs must check all the primary and secondary schools to make sure the facilities are accessible for them.
They have to start visiting schools to identify which schools are best for people with special needs and make recommendations.
Identify which facilities are needed to cater for them because they are our children and we have to help them.
It’s a work that we all have to do.
Dennis Miall
Miall’s comments came after an 18-year-old special need male student, Patrick Maiku, was refused enrollment at Bugandi and Lae Secondary schools because of the classrooms settings.
This is an eye opener for us responsible for education – to realize there are different students in different categories.
Their needs must be met before we select them.
Thank you to the parents for making the concern visible, so we can consider building classrooms and facilities that are easily accessible to use by everyone.
Miall
Meanwhile, provincial education adviser Keith Tangui said the division will work with responsible partners to deliver inclusive education in the province.