Disability is no barrier to learning in the post school education and training system
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 the North West Secondary School of the Deaf.
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.
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 Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Honourable Mayor of Maqassi Hills, Cllr Noni Kgabi and the Member of Mayoral Committee (for special programmes) in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, Cllr TK Lehloo.
‘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 North West Secondary School of the Deaf were exposed to opportunities available within the Sector Education and Training Authority’s (SETAs), National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and Vuselela Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
‘Disability funding exists to enable reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities and for procuring equipment, devices and technology’, concluded the Deputy Minister.
For further information and to schedule interviews, please contact:
Busiswa Nongogo
Cell: 0613512695
E-mail nongogo.b@dhet.gov.za
Calvin Nkosi
Cell: 0847395468
E-mail nkosi.c@dhet.gov.za
