The Zambian Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology has applauded the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for extending Constituency Development Fund bursaries to children living with disabilities and Children in Primary and Secondary weekly boarding schools.
Chairperson for the Education, Science and Technology Parliamentary Committee Twaambo Mutinta notes that the inclusion of children with special needs in the CDF bursary will help address the many challenges that primary boarding and day schools that are offering special education are facing especially with the introduction of the free education policy.
Mr. Mutinta discloses that during the committee benchmarking tours undertaken in May 2023 across the country, the committee witnessed the numerous challenges that children and schools offering special education were facing ranging from lack of infrastructure suitable for children with special needs, lack of appropriate learning and teaching tools, and poor sanitation and furniture.
He further adds that the step taken by government to provide these bursaries and support sits well with the Disabilities Act which ensures provision of equitable access to education
Mr. Mutinta who is also Itezhi-Tezhi Constituency Member of Parliament has further urged the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to continue creating flexibility in the administration of CDF in order to adapt it to the ever changing context in the education sector.
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