Dedicated funding for students with special needs
Today, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, MP shared opportunities that are available within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector with learners at Adelaide Tambo School for learners with disabilities.
The purpose of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities programme is to expose career opportunities within the PSET to learners with disabilities and further share with them funding opportunities. The Department’s intention is to mainstream issues of persons with disabilities in the PSET.
The Deputy Minister said ‘the Department through its entity NSFAS has dedicated funds to target learners who would like to pursue their studies within the PSET. Disability funding exists to enable reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities and for procuring special equipment, devices and technology’.
Research shows that the majority of students with disabilities continue to experience discrimination in the PSET sector. Issues of access, institutional practices that have failed to consider the learning needs of persons with disabilities and their support needs thereof, continue to be a barrier to this sector.
‘The Department is taking interest in the needs of learners with disabilities, especially around suitable career choices and adequate funding to increase the number of the disabled student population in all sectors. At the moment, the proportion of disabled students is roughly estimated to be less than 1% of the total student population in the PSET sector – which is a far cry of the Department’s target’, said the Deputy Minister.
The learners of the school were exposed to opportunities available within the Sector Education and Training Authority’s (SETAs), National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), SWGC TVET College, University of Johannesburg and many other opportunities available within PSET.
Mr Lindela Memani, Principal at Adelaide Tambo School noted that when government offer subsidies or grants, they as a school take it to their advantage.
Enquires:
Busiswa Nongogo
Cell: 061 351 2695
E-mail nongogo.b@dhet.gov.za
Calvin Nkosi
Cell 0847395468.
E-mail nkosi.c@dhet.gov.za
