WAWA takes time to explain Education for All

By Wamundila Waliuya

Education must be for all! I really like this statement but I do not understand it. If I understand it, then, it should mean that there should be no form of discrimination in the education system. Is it possible today? I think so.

Let us try to look at it from this point of view. The education system everywhere should carry teacher training programme for all; a curriculum for all; teaching methodology for all; physical infrastructure for all; a school and community for all; teachers for all; school support staff for all; communication modes and language for all; education planning and budget allocation for all. This sounds crazy! But I am trying to talk about a system that gives access, effective participation and progression for all learners.

I again sound vague when referring to ‘all’. Who are these all? It may mean all citizens interested in learning. All citizens interested to learn should find the education system ready to absorb and accommodate them appropriately. The teachers must be ready for them. The school infrastructure must be ready for them. The curriculum, both core and extra-curriculum must be ready for them. The community too must be ready for them. Everything reconciling with education and learning must be ready. No one interested to learn must be made to adjust to the education system. They should only fit into the already accommodating system.

I think I am still vague when referring to ‘all’ and ‘them’. Let us look further at this example. The school system must be able to be ready for them interested in using staircases and those who are not interested in stairs cases but are interested in lifts, escalators or ramps. The schooling system should also accommodate those who use print, large print and Braille or those who use all the modes of communication. The schooling system should be able to accommodate those who use speech and can hear; those who use speech but use sign language also; those who use sign language only etc. The schooling system should accommodate those who prefer to have extra time to learn and prefer to learn certain subjects that suitable for them. The schooling system should be able to set different examining methods for those who prefer to be examined differently. For instance, one learner would say, “I do not need to learn mathematics because I feel I can not assimilate it at the same speed as my colleagues can. My intellectual capacity can accommodate mathematics. So I would like to learn particular practical skills and be examined in that”. The education system should accommodate this learner who needs to learn too. Not all learners need mathematics, science, geography, history and book keeping. Some learners would only need communication skills, home economics and activities of daily living and be examined in these. Nothing is wrong with this. But we tend to force all subjects or courses on everyone. Why?

Let us look at another scenario. A teacher training curriculum planning technical team is sitting and one says, “Guys, let us make a curriculum for teacher training which will include the following: compulsory English language, sign language, tactile language, Braille and at list one local language. Of course bearing in mid other courses like psychology, sociology and teaching methodology”. The planner then says, “You are correct, the teaching methods should equip the teachers with skills to accommodate those who need more time to learn; those who need individualized attention; those who prefer sign language; those who prefer computers with screen reading software; those who prefer large print; those who use Braille”. The other joins in to say, “Let us not forget those learners who need more intensive support like orphans with stress, girls with stress and those with intellectual difficulties”. Another jokingly but seriously says, “Let us not forget the elderly who still want to go back to primary school.” This seems to be a serious technical team. What do you think? A newly graduating teacher should be proud to shout, “I am a teacher for all learners”.

What an expensive education system! It is not expensive. It is inclusive. My question now is: where does the so called “special education” fall. Let’s talk.