Pupils with disabilities at Isiolo school risk dropping out for lack of learning materials

Some 65 pupils at Kambi ya Juu Integrated School living with various disabilities risk dropping out of school due to inadequate learning materials and poor facilities.

Their biggest challenge is the lack of braille that assists the visually impaired in writing as well as white cans that enable them to move from one point to another.

School headteacher Jeniffer Makero revealed that many of the braille machines broke down and the few remaining ones currently being used by the pupils were not in good condition.

"We had about 20 braille but only less than 10 are currently in use. Every pupil is supposed to have their own for ease of learning," she said, adding that all the visually impaired pupils had white canes but there was no stock for those joining the school.

One braille is serving 10 pupils at the time.

Jeniffer listed the pupils' dormitory among the facilities that were in poor condition following temporary accommodation of street children during Covid-19 era by the county government under former Governor Mohamed Kuti's regime.

The street urchins destroyed the mattresses, stole bedding and vandalised window panes and school' power supply during their stay there.

The pupils are currently sharing beds due to lack of enough provisions such as beddings as the girls' grapple with inadequate access to sanitary towels.

"I have approached a lot of offices for help to repair the dormitory but we are yet to get any assistance," the headteacher noted, adding that girls were not being considered during sanitary towels distribution by local elected leaders.

With the majority of them hailing from poor families in Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit counties, Jeniffer said, their parents and guardians were unable to cater for the majority of their expenses, including food.

Some of the pupils were picked from their homes by well-wishers and taken to the school.

"Even with limited resources, we cannot send them home because we know they will suffer. We are forced to contribute from our own pockets to buy food for them when the provision from the government gets depleted," she said.

Appealing for support from local elected leaders, county and national government and well-wishers, Jeniffer raised concern that lack of assistive and learning devices could discourage the pupils from taking education seriously.

"They have been doing so well in co-curricular activities and have gone to the nationals for various competitions and brought back prizes but none of the leaders has even visited (the school) to encourage them," Jeniffer added.

Mohammed Abdullahi Medize, a champion for persons living with disabilities in the county, appealed to Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo and local MPs to intervene and assist the school.

"Some do not have uniforms. Braille machines are not enough and some of the facilities require repair. The pupils only require some little support to comfortably pursue their education and achieve their dreams," Mohammed said when he toured the school yesterday.